Product Liability Lawyer in Biloxi, MS
Every day, consumers in Biloxi, Mississippi, trust that the products they purchase will work safely as intended. Yet each year, thousands suffer serious injuries from products that should never have reached store shelves. Automobiles with faulty components that lead to accidents, prescription drugs with hidden dangers, and household appliances that can malfunction without warning.
Under Mississippi law, companies throughout the supply chain bear responsibility for the harm their products cause, whether through poor design choices, manufacturing errors, or inadequate safety warnings.
Our experienced Biloxi product liability lawyers will conduct a thorough investigation and prove how a defect led to your injuries. At Maloney-Lyons Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we have the resources and experience to build compelling cases against corporations that put dangerous products into consumers’ hands.
We work with engineers, safety experts, and medical professionals to demonstrate exactly how a product failed and the full extent of harm it caused. Contact us today for a free consultation.
What Is Product Liability Under Mississippi Law?
Product liability is the legal responsibility companies have when their products cause injuries to consumers. This means manufacturers, distributors, and retailers can be held accountable for harm caused by dangerous or defective products they put into the marketplace.
Mississippi follows strict liability rules for product defect cases. Under strict liability, you don’t need to prove the company was careless or negligent. You only need to show that the product had a defect that made it unreasonably dangerous and that this defect caused your injury.
The Mississippi Product Liability Act governs these cases and provides clear standards for when companies must pay compensation to injured consumers.
What Defects Make a Product Unsafe?
Mississippi law recognizes four main types of product defects that can lead to successful injury claims.
Manufacturing Defect
A manufacturing defect happens when something goes wrong during the production process. This creates a product that’s different from others in the same line and more dangerous than intended.
- Faulty brake assembly: A single car rolls off the assembly line with improperly installed brakes
- Contaminated medication: One batch of pills gets contaminated during the bottling process
- Defective tire: A tire is manufactured with a weak sidewall that causes blowouts
Design Defect
A design defect exists when the entire product line is inherently dangerous, even when manufactured perfectly. The problem lies in how the product was conceived and designed from the beginning.
- Unstable SUVs: Vehicles designed with a high center of gravity that makes them prone to rollovers
- Dangerous children’s toys: Products designed with small parts that pose choking hazards
- Unsafe power tools: Tools lacking proper safety guards that expose users to injury
Failure to Warn
Products can be defective when they lack adequate warnings about potential dangers or proper instructions for safe use. Companies must warn consumers about risks that aren’t obvious.
- Missing medication warnings: Prescription drugs without labels about dangerous side effects
- Inadequate machinery instructions: Industrial equipment sold without proper safety operating procedures
- Absent chemical hazard labels: Household products missing warnings about toxic fumes or skin contact dangers
Breach of Warranty
This occurs when a product fails to meet the promises made by the manufacturer or seller. The product doesn’t perform as advertised or guaranteed.
Who Can Be Sued for a Defective Product in Mississippi?
Mississippi law allows you to pursue compensation from any company involved in getting the dangerous product to you. This chain of responsibility means multiple parties may be liable for your injuries.
Our experienced Biloxi product liability lawyers investigate every company that played a role in your case:
- Product manufacturers: Companies that design and produce the item
- Component manufacturers: Businesses that make individual parts used in the final product
- Distributors and wholesalers: Companies that transport and distribute products to retailers
- Retail stores: Businesses that sell the product directly to consumers
Each company in this chain has a legal duty to ensure products are safe before they reach consumers.
What Compensation Can I Recover?
Mississippi law allows injured consumers to recover several types of damages when defective products cause harm.
Economic Damages
These cover your actual financial losses:
- Medical expenses: All treatment costs, including future medical care and rehabilitation
- Lost wages: Income you’ve missed due to your injuries
- Reduced earning capacity: Future income losses if your injuries affect your ability to work
- Property damage: Repair or replacement costs for damaged belongings
Non-Economic Damages
These compensate for personal suffering and life changes:
- Pain and suffering: Physical discomfort and emotional distress from your injuries
- Loss of life enjoyment: Inability to participate in activities you previously enjoyed
- Disfigurement: Permanent scarring or physical changes from your injuries
Mississippi law places limits on non-economic damages in many cases.
Punitive Damages
Courts award punitive damages when companies act with extreme recklessness or intentional misconduct. These damages punish the company and deter similar behavior. Mississippi limits punitive damages based on the defendant’s net worth.
How Long Do I Have to File in Mississippi?
Mississippi’s statute of limitations gives you three years to file a product liability lawsuit. This deadline typically starts when you discover your injury or when you reasonably should have known the product caused your harm.
Some exceptions can extend or shorten this timeframe:
- Minor children: The three-year period may not begin until the child reaches age 18
- Hidden injuries: The clock starts when you discover the connection between the product and your injury
- Death cases: Wrongful death claims have different timing rules
Evidence disappears and witnesses’ memories fade over time. Acting quickly and working with our experienced Biloxi personal injury lawyers protects your legal rights and strengthens your case.
What Should I Do After a Defective Product Injury?
Your actions immediately following an injury can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation.
Preserve the Product and Packaging
Keep the defective product exactly as it was when the injury occurred. Don’t attempt repairs, modifications, or cleaning that might alter important evidence. Save all packaging, instruction manuals, receipts, and warranty information.
Photograph the product from multiple angles before storing it safely. These images can serve as backup evidence if the physical product is later damaged or lost.
Document Injuries and Scene
Take clear photos of all visible injuries as soon as possible after the incident. Document the location where the injury occurred, showing the product’s position and any relevant surroundings.
Write down exactly what happened while the details remain fresh in your memory. Include the time, date, location, and any witnesses present during the incident.
Get Medical Care and Follow Orders
Seek immediate medical attention, even if your injuries seem minor at first. Some product-related injuries worsen over time or have delayed symptoms that aren’t immediately apparent, where pain may develop days after the incident.
Follow all treatment recommendations from your healthcare providers. This creates a complete medical record that links your injuries directly to the defective product incident.
Avoid Statements and Returns
Don’t give recorded statements to the manufacturer, their insurance company, or their representatives without consulting an attorney first. These companies often use your words against you later in the claims process.
Resist pressure to return the product to the store or manufacturer. Once you give up possession of the defective item, you lose control over crucial evidence needed to prove your case.
How We Prove Your Product Liability Case
Building a winning product liability case requires extensive investigation and expert analysis. Our experienced Biloxi product liability attorneys have the resources and experience to construct compelling cases against major manufacturers.
Inspect and Test the Product
We work with qualified engineers and product safety experts who thoroughly examine the defective item. These specialists use advanced testing methods to determine exactly how and why the product failed.
Their detailed analysis creates scientific evidence that proves the product was unreasonably dangerous when it left the manufacturer’s control.
Trace the Distribution Chain
Our investigation team tracks the product’s journey from the factory to your hands. We identify every company involved in designing, manufacturing, distributing, and selling the defective item.
This comprehensive approach ensures we pursue compensation from all responsible parties, maximizing your potential recovery.
Build Causation and Damages
We gather extensive medical records, expert medical testimony, and financial documentation to establish a clear connection between the product defect and your specific injuries.
Our team calculates the full scope of your damages, including future medical expenses and long-term impacts on your earning capacity.
Manage Recalls and Regulatory Evidence
When products are recalled or cited for safety violations, we use this information to strengthen your case. Government recall notices and regulatory actions provide powerful evidence that manufacturers knew about potential dangers.
We also research similar incidents involving the same product to establish patterns of dangerous behavior by the manufacturer.
What Defective Products Do We Handle?
Our firm handles product liability cases across numerous industries and product categories.
| Product Category | Common Examples |
| Medical Devices | Hip implants, pacemakers, surgical mesh, insulin pumps, defibrillators |
| Pharmaceuticals | Recalled prescription drugs, contaminated medications, dangerous side effects |
| Automotive Parts | Defective airbags, faulty brakes, tire failures, seatbelt malfunctions |
| Consumer Appliances | Kitchen equipment, heating systems, power tools, lawn equipment |
| Children’s Products | Toys with choking hazards, defective car seats, unsafe playground equipment |
We have the expertise to handle complex cases involving any type of consumer product that causes injury due to defects.
Will My Case Be a Class Action or Individual Claim?
Individual claims allow you to pursue compensation specifically for your unique injuries and circumstances. Class action lawsuits involve multiple people with similar injuries joining together in a single case against the same defendant.
The severity of your injuries often determines the best approach. Seriously injured victims typically benefit more from individual lawsuits that focus on their specific damages rather than sharing a class action settlement among many people.
We evaluate your situation carefully to recommend the legal strategy that best protects your interests and maximizes your compensation.
Do Most Cases Settle or Go to Trial?
Most product liability cases reach settlement agreements before going to trial, a process covered in our frequently asked questions about injury claims and settlements. However, we prepare every case as if it will be decided by a jury.
This thorough trial preparation strengthens our negotiating position and demonstrates to defendants that we’re ready to fight in court if necessary. Our reputation as skilled trial attorneys often motivates companies to offer fair settlements rather than risk larger jury verdicts.
When settlements don’t adequately compensate our clients, we’re fully prepared to present compelling cases to Mississippi juries.
What Does It Cost to Hire Maloney-Lyons Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers?
We handle all product liability cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation for your case.
You won’t pay any upfront costs for our legal services, expert witnesses, or case investigation expenses. We advance all necessary costs and only collect fees from your final settlement or jury verdict.
Your initial consultation is completely free, allowing you to understand your legal options without any financial obligation.
Why Choose Our Law Firm for a Biloxi Product Liability Case?
Our commitment to personal service and proven results sets us apart from other law firms handling product liability cases.
- Direct Attorney Access: Senior attorneys handle your case personally, not paralegals or case managers
- Local Gulf Coast Presence: Offices in Biloxi and Mobile provide convenient access and community connection
- Substantial Resources: Financial capability to fund expensive expert testimony and investigation costs
- Trial Experience: Proven courtroom success against major corporations and their legal teams
- Individual Attention: Personal service that treats you as a person, not just another case file
We understand the challenges you face after a product-related injury and provide compassionate guidance throughout the legal process.
Areas We Serve on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
From our Biloxi office and Mobile location, we represent clients throughout the Gulf Coast region and beyond.
Our primary service areas include:
- Biloxi and surrounding Harrison County communities
- Gulfport and the greater Mississippi Gulf Coast
- Jackson County and Pascagoula area
- Mobile Bay region and Baldwin County, Alabama
We handle cases for clients across Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, bringing our Gulf Coast expertise to product liability cases throughout the region.
Speak With a Biloxi Product Liability Lawyer Today
Defective products cause thousands of preventable injuries every year, and manufacturers often prioritize profits over consumer safety. When you’ve been harmed by a dangerous product, you deserve experienced legal representation that will fight for full compensation.
At Maloney-Lyons, we provide the personal attention and aggressive advocacy needed to hold large corporations accountable for their unsafe products. Your consultation is free, and you’re under no obligation to hire our firm after speaking with us.
Contact us online to discuss your defective product injury with an experienced attorney today.
FAQ: Product Liability in Mississippi
What If I No Longer Have the Defective Product or Its Packaging?
You can still pursue a product liability claim without the physical product, though having it strengthens your case significantly. We can build your case using photographs, purchase receipts, medical records, witness testimony, and expert analysis of similar products.
What If I Modified the Product or Used It Incorrectly?
Product misuse doesn’t automatically prevent you from recovering compensation, especially if your use was reasonably foreseeable or if the product lacked adequate warnings. Mississippi courts consider whether the manufacturer should have anticipated your type of use and provided appropriate safety warnings or design features.
Does a Product Recall Automatically Prove My Defective Product Case?
A recall provides strong evidence that a product is defective, but it doesn’t guarantee success in your individual case. You must still prove that the specific defect covered by the recall directly caused your particular injuries and that you used the product as intended.
Who Pays My Medical Bills While My Product Liability Case Is Pending?
Your health insurance typically covers initial medical treatment, and we work to recover those costs as part of your final settlement. If you don’t have insurance, some healthcare providers may agree to treat you on a lien basis, waiting for payment until your case resolves.
Can I File a Product Liability Claim If I Was Injured by a Defective Product at Work?
Yes, workplace injuries caused by defective equipment often allow for both workers’ compensation benefits and third-party product liability claims against the manufacturer. In tragic cases where defective products cause fatal accidents, families may also pursue wrongful death claims. These are separate legal actions that can provide different types of compensation for your injuries.