Atlanta Product Liability Lawyers
If you were injured by a defective product, an experienced Atlanta product liability lawyer can help you understand your legal options and pursue compensation from those responsible. Products are expected to be safe when used as intended. When a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer allows a dangerous defect to reach consumers, the law provides a path to hold them accountable.
At Hasner Law, we represent individuals dealing with serious injuries, mounting medical expenses, and lost income caused by unsafe products. Our attorneys build strong cases backed by evidence, handle communication with insurers and opposing parties, and advocate for the full value of your claim.
You pay nothing upfront, and there are no fees unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us today for a free consultation and clear guidance on what to do next.
How Hasner Law Fights for Product Liability Victims in Atlanta
Hasner Law has represented injured people across Georgia since 2008, recovering over $100 million in compensation for clients. The firm’s attorneys bring more than 100 years of combined experience in personal injury and workers’ compensation law to every case they handle.
A Firm Built for Complex Product Injury Cases
Product liability claims often involve large manufacturers, multiple parties in the supply chain, and technical evidence about how a defect occurred. Hasner Law takes on these cases with a contingency fee structure, meaning you pay nothing upfront and owe no fees unless the firm recovers compensation for you.
With offices in Atlanta, Downtown Atlanta, Kennesaw, and Savannah, the firm serves injured consumers throughout Georgia and provides free consultations around the clock.
What Are the Three Types of Product Defects Under Georgia Law?
Georgia recognizes three categories of product defects, and each one creates a different path for holding a manufacturer or seller accountable. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11, manufacturers face strict liability for defective products, meaning you do not have to prove they acted carelessly. You only need to show that the product had a defect and that defect caused your injury.
Manufacturing Defects
A manufacturing defect happens when something goes wrong during production, even though the product’s design is safe. The finished product differs from the manufacturer’s own specifications in a way that makes it dangerous. A power tool with a blade installed at the wrong angle or a car seat with a faulty latch are both examples.
Design Defects
A design defect exists when the product’s blueprint itself creates an unreasonable risk of harm. Georgia courts apply a risk-utility test, weighing the dangers of the design against its benefits. If a safer, practical alternative design exists, the manufacturer may face liability for choosing the riskier option.
Failure to Warn
Manufacturers have a duty to alert consumers about non-obvious dangers that arise from normal use of their product. A medication that causes dangerous interactions with common foods, for example, requires a clear warning label. Missing or inadequate warnings may form the basis of a product liability claim even when the product itself functions as designed.
Each type of defect carries its own proof requirements, so identifying the right category early makes a significant difference in how a case moves forward.
What Products Lead to Liability Claims in Atlanta?
Defective product injuries happen with items people use every day, from household appliances to children’s toys. Some of the most common
categories of dangerous products that lead to injury claims in the Atlanta area include:
- Vehicles and automotive parts such as brakes, airbags, tires, and ignition systems
- Medical devices including surgical implants, joint replacements, and hernia mesh
- Prescription and over-the-counter medications with undisclosed side effects
- Children’s toys and nursery products with choking hazards or toxic materials
- Power tools, lawn equipment, and household appliances with electrical or mechanical failures
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issues recalls on thousands of products each year, and many recalled items remain in homes long after a recall notice goes out. Checking for active recalls on any product that caused your injury may strengthen your case.
Who May Be Held Liable in a Georgia Product Liability Case?
One of the features that sets product liability apart from other injury claims is the number of parties who may share responsibility. Georgia law allows injured consumers to bring claims against multiple defendants in the distribution chain.
Manufacturers
Under Georgia’s strict liability framework, the manufacturer of the finished product or of an individual component part may face liability without proof of negligence. You must demonstrate that the product left the manufacturer’s control in a defective condition and that the defect caused your injury.
Retailers and Sellers
The store or online marketplace where you purchased the product may also share liability. Unlike manufacturers, retailers in Georgia are typically held to a negligence standard, meaning you must show the seller knew or had reason to know about the defect.
Distributors and Wholesalers
Companies that act as middlemen between manufacturers and retailers may bear responsibility if evidence shows they knew about the defect and continued to move the product through the supply chain.
Identifying every liable party matters because it opens additional sources of recovery, especially when a manufacturer is based overseas or has limited assets.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Defective Product Injury?
Georgia law allows injured consumers to seek several types of damages in product liability cases. The amount and type of compensation depend on
the specific facts of your case and the severity of your injuries.
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity tied to your injury
- Property damage caused by the defective product
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress resulting from the injury
- Loss of enjoyment of life and the impact on personal relationships
In cases involving wrongful death from a defective product, surviving family members may pursue compensation for funeral costs, lost lifetime earnings, and the loss of care and companionship.
How Does Georgia’s Comparative Fault Rule Apply to Product Liability Cases?
Georgia follows a modified comparative fault system under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33. If a court finds that you share some blame for your injury, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If your share of fault reaches 50% or more, Georgia law bars you from recovering anything.
Common Defenses Manufacturers Use
Product manufacturers and their insurance companies frequently argue that the consumer misused the product, ignored warnings, or altered the item after purchase. These defense tactics aim to shift enough fault onto you to reduce or eliminate your claim.
Atlanta product liability lawyers review the facts of each case to counter these arguments with evidence of how the defect, not user error, caused the harm.
What Filing Deadlines Apply to Product Liability Cases in Georgia?
Georgia imposes strict time limits on product liability lawsuits. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, you have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim and four years for property damage.
The Statute of Repose
Georgia also enforces a ten-year statute of repose under O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11(b)(2). This rule bars most product liability claims filed more than ten years after the product’s first sale, regardless of when the injury occurred. The statute of repose does not apply to failure-to-warn claims, which means certain cases may proceed even beyond the ten-year window.
The Discovery Rule
In some situations, injuries from defective products do not appear right away. Toxic chemicals, hazardous building materials, and certain medications may cause harm that takes months or years to surface. Georgia’s discovery rule allows the statute of limitations clock to pause until the injured person learns of the injury and its connection to the product.
What to Do After a Defective Product Injures You
Once you have received medical treatment and are safely home, a few key steps help preserve the strength of a potential product liability claim.
- Keep the defective product in the condition it was in when the injury happened, along with all packaging, receipts, and instruction materials
- Document your injuries with photos and maintain records of every medical visit, prescription, and out-of-pocket cost
- Report the product to the CPSC through SaferProducts.gov to create a public record of the defect
- Avoid contacting the manufacturer or accepting any settlement offer before speaking with an attorney
- Gather names and contact information for anyone who witnessed the incident or the product’s failure
Preserving physical evidence is one of the most valuable things you do in a product liability case because the defective product itself often serves as the strongest proof of what went wrong.
FAQs for Atlanta Product Liability Lawyers
How long does a product liability case take to resolve in Georgia?
The timeline depends on factors such as the number of defendants, the complexity of the defect, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Cases involving a single defendant and clear evidence may resolve within a few months. Claims that involve multiple companies, disputed expert opinions, or large-scale product defects often take a year or longer. Additional time may be required for investigation, product testing, and court proceedings.
Do I need to prove the manufacturer was careless to win a product liability case?
Not always. Georgia law allows claims against manufacturers under a strict liability standard, which means you do not have to prove negligence. You must show that the product was defective when it left the manufacturer’s control and that the defect caused your injury. Claims against retailers or distributors may still require proof that the party failed to use reasonable care.
What if I changed or modified the product before the injury?
Manufacturers often raise product modification as a defense. They may argue that changes made after purchase caused or contributed to the injury. If the modification is unrelated to the defect, it may not affect your claim. Courts look at whether the change was foreseeable and whether it altered the product in a way that created the risk. Each case depends on its specific facts.
Is there a limit on how much compensation I may receive?
Georgia does not cap compensatory damages in most product liability cases. You may recover damages for medical expenses, lost income, and other losses tied to the injury. Punitive damages, which are intended to punish particularly reckless conduct, are generally capped at $250,000. Exceptions may apply in cases involving intentional misconduct or other specific circumstances.
What if the product was a gift or I bought it secondhand?
You do not need to be the original purchaser to bring a product liability claim in Georgia. If you were injured by a defective product that you received as a gift, borrowed, or purchased secondhand, you may still pursue compensation. The focus is on whether the product was defective and caused your injury, not how you obtained it.
Reach Out to Atlanta Product Liability Lawyers at Hasner Law
A product you trusted with your safety failed, and the law gives you a path to hold the responsible parties accountable. Georgia’s filing deadlines run on a fixed clock, and evidence from defective products deteriorates or disappears with time. Acting quickly protects both your claim and the physical proof that supports it.
Hasner Law offers free, no-obligation consultations to review your case and explain your options. Contact Hasner Law today to speak with Atlanta product liability lawyers who are ready to fight for you.
Hasner Law Injury & Workers’ Compensation Attorneys – Atlanta Office
2839 Paces Ferry Road SE, Suite 1050
Atlanta, GA 30339
P: (678) 888-4878
