Secure Your Rights Against Dangerous and Defective Products

When you purchase a product, you expect it to be safe and function as intended. Unfortunately, defective products can cause serious injuries and even wrongful death.

If you or a loved one has been injured because of a faulty product in Washington state, you may have the right to pursue a product liability claim. These cases can involve anything from defective vehicle components to dangerous household products, malfunctioning machinery, and products that lack adequate safety warnings.

At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC, our attorneys help injured people investigate potential product liability claims and pursue compensation from parties that may be legally responsible.

Experienced Product Liability Attorneys in Washington State

At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC, our experienced product liability lawyers are dedicated to helping victims recover compensation from manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and other potentially responsible parties. Our law firm has a long history of representing clients in product liability cases across Tacoma, Seattle, and throughout Washington state.

Product liability claims can be challenging. A dangerous product may involve several companies, complicated technical evidence, product testing, and questions about how an item was designed, manufactured, marketed, or used. Our attorneys investigate the circumstances surrounding an injury to help determine what went wrong and what legal options may be available.

Understanding Product Liability

Product liability refers to the legal responsibility that may arise when a defective or unreasonably dangerous product causes injury or other legally recognized harm. Depending on the circumstances, a claim may involve a manufacturer, wholesaler, distributor, retailer, or another party in the product’s supply chain.

Washington’s Product Liability Act, Chapter 7.72 RCW, addresses claims involving harm caused by product design, manufacturing, warnings, instructions, marketing, and other aspects of a product. The legal requirements depend on the type of defect and the parties involved.

A product liability claim may be possible even if the injured person did not purchase the product directly. The key questions include whether the product was legally defective, whether that defect caused the injury, and which parties may be held responsible under applicable law.

Washington State Product Liability Laws

Washington law provides legal remedies for people harmed by defective products, but the requirements for proving a claim vary according to the nature of the defect and the circumstances of the case.

For example, a claim may involve a product that was not reasonably safe as designed, a product that departed from its intended manufacturing specifications, or a failure to provide adequate warnings or instructions about a known or reasonably foreseeable danger.

Some product liability claims involve strict liability principles, while others require evidence of negligence, inadequate warnings, or another recognized legal basis. It is not accurate to assume that every defective-product claim follows the same standard of proof.

The applicable law may also affect which parties can be held responsible. Manufacturers, retailers, and distributors do not necessarily have identical legal responsibilities.

Because these cases can involve technical and legal complexities, an attorney can help evaluate the evidence and identify the legal standards that may apply.

Common Types of Defective Products

Defective products can affect nearly every area of daily life. Common categories that may lead to product liability claims include:

Automotive Defects

Defective vehicle components can contribute to serious collisions and injuries. Potential problems include defective airbags, faulty seat belts, tire defects, brake failures, and other vehicle safety issues.

If an airbag failed to deploy or another component malfunctioned during a collision, the circumstances may warrant investigation. Learn more in our article about airbags that fail to deploy in a crash. You can also explore our information about vehicle accidents.

Unsafe Baby Products

Products such as car seats, cribs, playpens, strollers, and other items designed for infants and children can pose serious risks when they contain design flaws, manufacturing defects, or inadequate warnings.

Defective Tools and Industrial Equipment

Power tools, saws, sanders, machinery, and industrial equipment can cause severe injuries if safety mechanisms fail or components malfunction. Depending on the circumstances, a claim may involve defective design, faulty assembly, or inadequate safety instructions.

For related information, visit our page on defective industrial equipment.

Dangerous Drugs and Medical Devices

Certain claims involve prescription drugs, medical devices, or other healthcare products that are defective, inadequately labeled, or unsafe for their intended use. These cases may require specialized medical and technical evidence to evaluate the product’s role in causing harm.

Defective Household Appliances

Everyday products such as space heaters, kitchen appliances, electrical devices, and power tools can become dangerous when they contain faulty wiring, defective components, or inadequate safety protections.

A product’s failure alone does not automatically establish liability. The circumstances of the incident and the evidence about the product’s condition and safety must be carefully evaluated.

Types of Product Defects

Product liability claims commonly involve three broad categories of defects.

1. Design Defects

A design defect occurs when a product’s design makes it unreasonably unsafe. Even if the product was manufactured according to its specifications, the design itself may create an unreasonable risk of injury.

For example, a vehicle component may lack an adequate safety feature, or a consumer product may have a design that exposes users to a preventable hazard.

Evaluating a design defect may require technical analysis, expert testimony, and consideration of whether a safer, practical alternative design was available.

2. Manufacturing Defects

A manufacturing defect occurs when a product becomes unsafe because something went wrong during production or assembly. The design may be appropriate, but the individual product differs materially from its intended specifications or other products in the same line.

Examples may include a component assembled incorrectly, a part made from unsuitable materials, or a product that leaves the factory with a defective safety mechanism.

Evidence may include the product itself, manufacturing records, inspection results, and information about similar products.

3. Marketing, Labeling, and Warning Defects

A product may also be unsafe because it lacks adequate warnings or instructions about foreseeable risks.

Examples include missing safety instructions, inadequate warnings about potential hazards, or instructions that fail to explain how to use a product safely.

Washington law also addresses certain circumstances in which a manufacturer learns about a danger after a product has been manufactured. Whether a warning-related claim is viable depends on the applicable legal requirements and evidence.

Injuries Caused by Dangerous Products

The harm caused by a defective product can be severe and long-lasting. Depending on the product and the circumstances, injured people may experience:

• Broken bones and other orthopedic injuries
• Burns and electrical injuries
• Head trauma and traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Nerve damage and permanent disability
• Injuries requiring surgery or long-term rehabilitation
• Fatal injuries resulting in wrongful death

These injuries may create substantial medical expenses, time away from work, long-term care needs, and emotional hardship for injured people and their families.

Our Tacoma product liability attorneys understand the impact that a dangerous product can have on your life. Depending on the facts of the case, compensation may be available for legally recoverable losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and certain property damage.

When a defective product causes a fatal injury, eligible family members or representatives of the estate may have a wrongful death claim.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Defective Product?

Depending on the product, the defect, and the evidence, potentially responsible parties may include:

• Manufacturers: Companies that design, produce, assemble, or manufacture products or components.
• Distributors and wholesalers: Businesses involved in supplying products to retailers or other purchasers.
• Retailers: Businesses that sell products to consumers, subject to the applicable legal standards and exceptions.
• Other product sellers: Certain other parties involved in bringing a product to market may have legal responsibilities under Washington law.

Not every party in the supply chain is automatically liable for an injury. Washington law establishes specific requirements and exceptions that can affect a product seller’s responsibility.

Identifying the appropriate parties is an important part of investigating a potential claim. Our attorneys can review the available evidence to help determine who may be legally responsible.

What Evidence Can Help Support a Product Liability Claim?

Product liability cases often require more than showing that an injury occurred. Evidence must help establish the product’s condition, the nature of the alleged defect, how the injury happened, and the connection between the defect and the resulting harm.

Depending on the circumstances, useful evidence may include:

• The product and its components
• Photographs or videos of the product and incident scene
• Purchase receipts, product packaging, and instruction manuals
• Product labels, warnings, and safety notices
• Maintenance, inspection, and repair records
• Medical records documenting the injury and treatment
• Incident reports and witness statements
• Product recalls or safety communications, when relevant
• Expert evaluations and technical testing

If a product may have caused an injury, preserve it and its packaging if it is safe to do so. Avoid repairing, modifying, or discarding the product before receiving appropriate guidance, since its condition may be important evidence. Keep related receipts, manuals, photographs, and communications.

An attorney can help determine what evidence should be preserved and whether additional investigation or expert analysis is necessary.

How RHHK’s Tacoma Product Liability Attorneys Can Help

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, our attorneys can guide you through the claims process.

Free Consultation

We offer a free consultation to discuss your situation, review the available information, and explain potential next steps.

Investigating the Product and Injury

We can help gather relevant evidence, including medical records, incident reports, product documentation, photographs, witness statements, and expert analysis where appropriate. Our team investigates whether the evidence supports a claim involving design, manufacturing, or warning defects.

Evaluating Potentially Responsible Parties

Product liability cases may involve manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and other businesses. We examine the circumstances to identify parties who may have legal responsibility under Washington law.

Navigating Complex Legal Issues

These claims can involve technical questions, corporate defendants, insurance companies, and detailed legal requirements. Our attorneys work to understand the facts and build a case supported by the available evidence.

Pursuing Compensation

Our goal is to help clients pursue compensation for the losses caused by a defective product. Depending on the circumstances, this may involve settlement negotiations or litigation.

Contingency Fee Representation

We handle qualifying cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning attorney fees are tied to a recovery. We can explain the terms of representation during your initial consultation so you understand the arrangement before proceeding.

How Long Do You Have to File a Product Liability Lawsuit in Washington?

Washington law imposes deadlines on product liability claims. Under RCW 7.72.060, a claim generally may not be brought more than three years after the claimant discovered, or through due diligence should have discovered, the harm and its cause, subject to applicable tolling and extension provisions. Other rules, including provisions concerning a product’s useful safe life, may also be relevant.

The deadline that applies to a particular case can depend on the facts and the legal basis of the claim. Do not assume that you have a particular amount of time without evaluating your circumstances.

Seeking legal advice promptly can help preserve evidence and clarify which deadlines may apply.

You can review the Washington Product Liability Act, Chapter 7.72 RCW for the relevant statutory provisions.

Contact Our Product Liability Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one has been injured by a dangerous or defective product, the attorneys at Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC are ready to discuss your situation and help you understand your legal options.

Our Tacoma product liability attorneys represent injured people throughout Washington state. We can review the circumstances of your injury, discuss potential avenues for recovery, and explain the next steps.

Contact RHHK to request a free consultation and discuss your potential product liability claim.

Let us help you pursue accountability and the compensation you may be entitled to recover.