Many different products and services can be dangerous if they’re defective or have been manufactured to a poor standard. If you have suffered an injury due to anaccident caused by a defective product, you could be entitled to claim compensation.

You may be able to make a defective product claim under The Consumer Protection Act 1987. The Act contains terms outlining that if you are injured due to a faulty product – it is not necessary to prove that the manufacturer was negligent. The manufacturer will be deemed responsible under ‘strict liability’ should the faulty product have caused an injury.

Common examples of defective product injury claims include:

• Unsafe electrical equipment, leading to electric shocks or fire.
• Contaminated food causing food poisoning.
• Malfunctioning hair styling equipment, resulting in burns, cuts and scarring.
• Contaminated cosmetic products, causing skin damage.
• Unsafe medical equipment, leading to further internal or external injuries.
• Badly designed buggy hinges, resulting in hand injuries and broken fingers.

It is important to seek medical help as soon as possible after suffering an injury as a result of a faulty product. After which, should you wish to make a claim, you should keep evidence in the form of the faulty product itself, photos of the product, product packaging and proof of purchase like the receipt. You should then seek legal advice for an assessment of your case and to start the claims process.

The amount of compensation that you can obtain as a result of making a defective product injury claim depends on the severity of the injury you have suffered and the effect that this will have on your day-to-day life.