Who is responsible for an injury caused by an unsafe product in Maine?

You programmed the coffee pot before bed-but instead of smelling coffee, you smell smoke. You jump out of bed to find that the cord is sparking, and has set a nearby dishtowel on fire. Thinking fast, you manage to put the fire out-but your hand is badly burned and the overhead cabinets are singed beyond repair.

One thing is certain: the accident was not your fault. You should never have been injured, and you are owed compensation for your medical bills and your damaged kitchen.

But who do you seek compensation from? The store where you bought the item-or the wholesaler who sold it to them? The designer who patented the product, or the manufacturer that thought it was safe to put on the market?

There are many people who could be liable for your dangerous product injury in Maine. At Lowry & Associates, we start from the beginning to find out where the fault lies, working our way down to determine at what point the product became dangerous:

• Product design. Sometimes goods are flawed before a since screw goes into them. Design problems, such as collapsing car seats that cause injury on impact, can make a product dangerous before construction even starts.
• Construction of components. The body of a car may be perfectly sound, but there are thousands of moving parts under the hood. Many auto manufacturers outsource components, trusting that they will all work properly when assembled.
• Main assembly line. Unlike defects that affect the product as a whole, assembly accidents usually result in an occasional defective unit due to an error. If there was a mistake putting the product together, the piece may have sharp edges or faulty wiring.
• Testing facility. All finished products must be tested for safety before being released to the public. If a company does not test its products thoroughly enough to spot a potential hazard, they may be responsible for the injuries that result.
• Package labeling. You may have seen electronics sporting large warning tags on the cords. These are a legal requirement for many devices: if a product has been found to have potential to harm, it must have a label stating the dangers. Labeling defects, called "failure to warn," are a common cause of product liability lawsuits.

When someone puts your family in danger, we put our family to work.

At Lowry & Associates, every one of our clients is treated with respect and compassion. After hearing the particulars of your case during your free consultation, we walk you through the steps of your case, taking your insurance company's calls and negotiating with medical bill collectors so you have the time you need to heal. We are your legal counsel, but we also treat you as a friend, calling regularly for updates on your condition and making sure you stay informed on the progress of your case.

Find out how much easier your recovery can be with an experienced Maine consumer lawyer on your side. Call Lowry & Associates today at 1(888) 485-9501.

Lowry & Associates handles injury cases throughout the state of Maine. We have offices in Portland and Bangor, but serve clients across the state, including Lewiston, Biddeford, Auburn, Augusta, Waterville, Brunswick, Sanford, Presque Isle and more. Contact us today for information on your case in any Maine county including Cumberland, York, Androscoggin and Penobscot Counties.