Southfield Product Liability Lawyer

When a defective product injures someone in Southfield, Michigan, the law lets the injured person hold the manufacturer and others in the supply chain accountable, and Goodman Acker handles those claims. The rules on fault, deadlines, and recovery are strict, codified at MCL 600.2945 to MCL 600.2947, and early action is often critical.

Southfield sits within Oakland County’s manufacturing and auto corridor, where major companies design and distribute complex products backed by strong legal teams. When one of those products fails, the harm falls on the user, and the company’s defense is already prepared.

What Makes a Product Defective Under Michigan Law

Michigan product liability law recognizes three categories of product defects, and each one requires a different approach to proving your case.

Design defects arise when the original concept for the product creates an unreasonable risk of harm. Every unit manufactured from that blueprint carries the same flaw. A power tool with a blade guard that fails to engage is a design defect. So is a vehicle stability system that disengages under certain road conditions without warning the driver.

Manufacturing defects happen during production. The original design may be sound, but a specific batch or individual unit deviates from that design in a way that makes it dangerous. A correctly designed bicycle frame that was welded incorrectly at the factory is a manufacturing defect case.

Failure to warn claims address products that carry foreseeable risks that a reasonable user would not discover on their own. Inadequate warning labels, missing dosage instructions, or absent contraindication notices on medications all fall into this category. Michigan courts analyze these cases under MCL 600.2948, which sets out the standard for warnings adequate to make a product reasonably safe.

Under Michigan product liability law, you do not always need to prove a company acted carelessly in the traditional sense. Instead, you must show that the product was defective, the defect made the product unreasonably dangerous, and the defect caused your injury while the product was being used in a normal or foreseeable way.

Not every defect is easy to see right away. Some problems only appear when a product is used in normal conditions. Others only show up after repeated use or in specific situations that the manufacturer should have planned for.

If you are not sure whether your injury involved a defect, that is what the free review is for. Call Goodman Acker, and we will look at what happened and tell you whether you have a claim.

A Recent Law Change That Affects Drug and Device Claims

For decades, Michigan maintained a legal shield that protected pharmaceutical manufacturers from liability as long as their drug received FDA approval and the labeling matched that approval. That protection no longer exists.

A recent amendment, Senate Bill 410, repealed the immunity provision in MCL 600.2946. Drug manufacturers and sellers can no longer use FDA approval as an automatic defense against product liability claims in Michigan.

The amended statute keeps a rebuttable presumption that a product was not defective if it met applicable federal standards. A rebuttable presumption is a starting assumption that the court makes that the other side can overcome with evidence, so this one can be challenged.

For patients in Southfield who suffered serious injuries from prescription drugs or implanted medical devices, this change opened the courthouse door to claims that Michigan courts would previously have dismissed.

One timing detail matters a great deal. The repeal applies only to injuries that occurred on or after its effective date; claims that accrued earlier are still evaluated under the prior statute. If your injury from a prescription drug or medical device dates back far enough to predate the change, the legal analysis is different, and you need a Southfield product liability attorney who understands both versions of the law.

If you believe a dangerous drug or medical device caused serious harm, do not assume the manufacturer is protected from liability. A Southfield product liability lawyer can review the facts, explain whether the law change affects your case, and help you understand what options may still be available.

This change matters because it affects how drug and device cases are evaluated at the start. It does not promise a particular result, but it lets injured people bring claims that were previously dismissed.

What You Can Recover: Economic Losses, Pain and Suffering, and the Damage Caps

Michigan product liability cases allow recovery for economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses include past and future medical bills, lost income, lost earning capacity, and property damage. These are not capped. If a defective piece of industrial equipment destroyed your ability to work in your trade, the full financial picture of that loss is recoverable.

Non-economic losses, which include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship, are subject to a statutory cap under MCL 600.1483. Cases involving death or permanent loss of a vital bodily function carry a higher cap. Because these limits are adjusted for inflation each year, your attorney confirms the figure that applies to your claim.

Michigan also follows a modified comparative fault rule. If you are found partially responsible for your own injury, your recovery is reduced in proportion to your share of fault, and if your fault exceeds 50 percent, you lose the right to recover entirely.

Defense teams regularly try to shift fault toward the injured person. The Southfield product liability attorneys at Goodman Acker prepare to counter those arguments before they gain traction.

The Supply Chain Has Multiple Links: Who Bears Liability

One of the first questions in a product liability case is who to hold responsible. The answer is rarely just one company. Michigan law allows claims against any party in the product’s distribution chain, including manufacturers, part makers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers.

In the Southfield market, this matters practically. Automotive and technology suppliers here often produce components that go into larger assemblies. A brake sensor made by a Southfield-area supplier that malfunctions in a vehicle recall scenario raises questions about where the defect originated. Was it in the sensor’s design? Are the raw materials sourced from a third-party vendor? The installation instructions provided by the OEM?

Identifying the right defendants, gathering the right records, and retaining the right engineering specialists early in the case determines whether a claim reaches its full value.

Goodman Acker works with engineers, medical specialists, and investigators to trace a defect back to its source. That may include reviewing factory records, testing failed parts, and examining how the product moved through the supply chain.

Product liability cases often involve several companies, not just one manufacturer. Finding out who made key decisions early in the process can make a major difference in the outcome of the case.

The Three-Year Clock Is Already Running

Michigan’s statute of limitations for product liability claims under MCL 600.5805 gives you three years from the date of injury to file. That deadline holds even if you did not immediately understand that a product caused your harm.

The discovery rule provides some relief. If the injury was not reasonably discoverable at the time it occurred, the clock may start later, running from when you discovered or should have discovered the connection between the product and your injury. This matters most in cases involving pharmaceutical side effects, toxic exposures, or medical device failures that produce symptoms gradually over months or years.

Some product liability cases involve additional timing rules, especially when older products are involved. The exact deadline can depend on the type of product, when the injury happened, and when the connection between the product and the injury became known.

If you believe an older product caused your injury, speak with a Southfield product liability lawyer as soon as possible so the correct filing deadline can be reviewed.

How Goodman Acker Handles Product Liability Cases in Southfield

The first step after an injury from a defective product is preserving evidence. That means the product itself, the packaging, the purchase receipt, any warnings or instruction materials, and all medical records from the date of injury forward. Once a claim is filed, manufacturers often pursue protective orders to limit document discovery. Goodman Acker moves quickly to secure evidence before that happens.

These cases move through the courts on a different timeline than car accident claims. Corporate defendants typically have national legal representation, deep discovery processes, and the resources to delay. Southfield product liability attorneys at this firm do not treat that as a reason to settle early at a lower number. The firm has the litigation infrastructure to take product liability cases to verdict when a fair resolution is not offered.

Beyond building the liability case, the firm documents the full scope of your losses. Injuries from defective products often involve extended recoveries, specialist care, adaptive equipment, and long-term limitations on earning capacity. A product liability attorney who accounts only for immediate costs leaves significant value on the table. Goodman Acker builds cases that reflect what the injury actually costs, now and over time.

Goodman Acker takes these cases on contingency. There are no upfront legal fees. The firm gets paid only when your case resolves in your favor. That model means the firm’s interests are directly aligned with yours throughout the process.

FAQs: Michigan Product Liability Claims Explained

Can I still file a product liability claim if I no longer have the defective product?

Yes, though it is harder to prove without the physical product. Medical records, photographs from around the time of injury, witness accounts, and specialist testimony about similar failures in the same model or batch can help establish that a defect existed. If you still have the product, stop using it, store it safely, and contact an attorney before repairing or discarding it.

How long does a product liability case usually take?

Product liability cases often take longer than standard injury claims because manufacturers usually fight them aggressively. Some cases settle in months, while others take more than a year if specialist testing, recalls, or multiple companies are involved. The timeline depends on the complexity of the defect and how serious the injuries are.

What should I do right after a defective product injures me?

Stop using the product immediately and store it somewhere safe. Do not repair it, throw it away, or let anyone inspect it without first taking photos. Keep receipts, packaging, warning labels, and medical records connected to the injury. These items may become important evidence later.

Can multiple people injured by the same product file claims together?

Yes. Depending on how many people were harmed and how widely the product was distributed, claims may proceed as individual lawsuits, a class action, or a consolidated multi-district litigation (many similar cases grouped before one court). Each path affects timeline, settlement structure, and individual recovery differently, and Goodman Acker can advise which one fits your situation.

Can I still file a claim if the product was recalled after my injury?

Yes. In many cases, a recall issued after an injury can help support a claim. A recall may show that the manufacturer later discovered a safety problem with the product. Even if the recall happened months later, it may still become important evidence in your case.

The Manufacturer Had a Legal Team Before You Got Hurt. Now You Can Too.

Corporations that sell products in Michigan have risk management departments, product defense law firms on retainer, and insurance carriers whose job is to pay out as little as possible when something goes wrong. By the time a case reaches you, those systems are already in motion.

Goodman Acker’s Southfield product liability lawyers represent people injured by dangerous and defective products across Oakland County. Consultations are free, and there are no fees unless the firm recovers compensation for you.

If a defective product caused serious harm, speak with a product liability attorney as soon as possible. Important evidence can disappear quickly, and legal deadlines continue running from the date of injury.  Call Goodman Acker at 1-800-TRUSTED to speak directly with a product liability attorney who handles these cases in Southfield and throughout Oakland County.

The statute of limitations is fixed, and it does not pause. The decision to act, however, remains yours.

Southfield Headquarters: Two Towne Square, Suite 444 Southfield, MI 48076

LEGALLY REVIEWED BY BARRY J. GOODMAN

Barry J. Goodman has devoted his professional life to keeping courthouse doors open for victims seeking justice. Always a tireless advocate for his own clients, Goodman sees his responsibility as a Detroit personal injury attorney in a broader sense as well. [ Attorney Bio ]