Products Liability Lawyers Serving Clients in the New York Area
Leav & Steinberg LLP handles product liability claims involving injuries caused by defective or dangerous products. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers have a legal duty to ensure the safety of their goods. When products fail due to design flaws, manufacturing errors, or lack of warnings, injured consumers can seek compensation.
At Leav & Steinberg LLP, we will provide you with your own personal legal team to represent you during your products liability case. As a client-centered firm, we will not charge you any attorney fees until after your case has been won.
New York Product Liability Lawyers
It is the responsibility of manufacturers, distributors, and sellers to offer products that work properly and are safe to use. Our products liability attorneys are equipped to handle cases that involve a variety of claims. The three main types of product liability claims are for a design defect, manufacturing defect, and failure to warn. Other common product liability claims are rooted in negligence, breach of an express warranty, breach of an implied warranty of merchantability, breach of an implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, breach of consumer protection, and strict liability.
The statute of limitations for most New York product liability cases is three years. Some of the more common types of products liability cases include:
Defective Automobiles
Unsafe drivers are not the only danger on New York roads. In some cases, serious crashes happen because a vehicle or one of its components was defectively designed, manufactured, or sold without adequate warnings. When that happens, injured drivers, passengers, and even pedestrians may have grounds for an automobile product liability claim.
Defective automobile cases can involve failures in critical vehicle systems or overlooked design flaws that make a crash more likely or increase the severity of injuries once a collision occurs.
Some of the most common defective automobile parts include:
- Airbags
- Steering columns
- Brakes
- Tires
- Wiring and electrical systems
In addition to defective parts, dangerous vehicle design can also lead to catastrophic injuries. For example, the absence of an adequate child safety lock, rollover-prone design, or poor crashworthiness features may form the basis of a product liability claim.
Under New York product liability law, injured consumers may be able to pursue claims against manufacturers, designers, distributors, or suppliers when a defective vehicle or component is found to be unreasonably dangerous. In many of these cases, more than one party may share liability.
To pursue an automobile product liability claim, it is often necessary to show that:
- The vehicle or part was defective or unreasonably dangerous
- The defect contributed to the accident or injury
- The vehicle was being used in a reasonably foreseeable way
- The vehicle had not been substantially altered before the incident
Reporting defective automobile parts and pursuing legal action can do more than help one injured person recover compensation. These claims may also lead to recalls and broader safety changes that protect other consumers from preventable harm.
If a defective vehicle component contributed to your injuries, a product liability claim may help identify the responsible parties and hold them accountable.
Defective Machinery
People who use machinery at work or at home have a right to expect that the equipment will operate safely when used as intended. When machinery malfunctions because of poor design, defective components, or missing safety features, the injuries can be severe and sometimes fatal.
Defective machinery cases often arise in high-risk industries such as construction, manufacturing, utilities, and agriculture, but these injuries can also happen in homes, garages, and other non-industrial settings.
Common machinery-related accidents include:
- Electrocution
- Factory accidents
- Manufacturing accidents
- Construction site equipment failures
- Utility or cable-related incidents
Even ordinary machines and appliances, such as washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, or power tools, can cause serious injuries if they are defectively designed or improperly assembled.
Depending on the facts, machinery product liability claims may involve:
- Design defects
- Manufacturing defects
- Failure to include proper safety guards
- Improper installation
- Inadequate warnings or instructions
Federal and industry rules, including OSHA requirements and ANSI B11 standards, establish important safety expectations for machinery used in the workplace. In some cases, injured workers may have both a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party product liability claim against a manufacturer, supplier, or installer.
When machinery fails and causes harm, the investigation often focuses on how the equipment was designed, maintained, installed, and used at the time of the accident.
Defective Aviation Equipment
Aircraft defects can have catastrophic consequences. Because airplanes rely on highly coordinated mechanical, electrical, and navigational systems, even a single defective component can place passengers and crew at serious risk.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates many aspects of aircraft safety, including maintenance schedules and inspection requirements. Commercial airplanes are subject to extensive oversight, but safety failures can still occur when manufacturers, maintenance providers, or other responsible parties fail to meet required standards.
Defective aviation equipment claims may involve:
- Engine failure
- Defective electrical or navigation systems
- Structural failures
- Improper repairs
- Inadequate inspections
- Missing or insufficient warnings or safety instructions
In some aviation cases, liability may arise from the design or manufacture of the aircraft itself. In others, the issue may involve defective replacement parts, poor maintenance work, or improper use of flight hardware.
Potentially responsible parties can include:
- Aircraft manufacturers
- Parts manufacturers
- Maintenance providers
- Repair companies
- Airlines or aircraft owners
These cases are often highly technical and require a careful investigation into both the aircraft’s history and the exact cause of the equipment failure. When a defective aviation component contributes to a crash or in-flight emergency, injured victims and surviving families may have legal claims under both product liability and aviation law.
Defective Boats and Maritime Equipment
Defective boats and maritime equipment can cause serious injuries, property loss, and wrongful death on the water. A flaw in a boat’s engine, fuel system, safety equipment, or structural components can quickly turn a recreational outing or work assignment into a life-threatening emergency.
Manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of maritime products are responsible for ensuring that boats and related equipment are reasonably safe for their intended use. When dangerous defects make it into the marketplace, injured consumers and maritime workers may have the right to bring legal claims.
Examples of defective maritime products may include:
- Engines
- Fuel tanks
- Generators
- Flotation or safety equipment
- Fishing nets
- Conveyor systems
- Faulty construction materials
These claims can arise in both recreational boating and commercial maritime settings. Maritime workers injured by defective equipment may have rights under the Jones Act or general maritime law, while passengers and private boaters may also have claims against the boat owner, manufacturer, or supplier, depending on the circumstances.
Because maritime cases often involve a mix of product liability law and maritime law, determining liability may require a close review of how the product was designed, sold, maintained, and used before the accident occurred.
If a defective marine product contributed to an injury at sea or on the water, legal action may help uncover what went wrong and who may be responsible.
Defective Medical Devices
Defective medical device cases often involve products that were intended to improve a patient’s health but instead caused additional injury, illness, or long-term complications. These claims are different from traditional medical malpractice cases because the focus may be on the manufacturer, distributor, or seller of the device rather than solely on a healthcare provider.
A product liability claim involving a medical device may arise from:
- A design defect
- A manufacturing defect
- Failure to warn doctors or patients about known risks
- Improper labeling or instructions for use
Examples of medical devices that have been the subject of product liability claims include:
- Joint implants
- Surgical mesh products
- Stents
- Defibrillators
- Infusion pumps
- Surgical tools and implanted devices
When these products malfunction or are defectively designed, patients may suffer serious complications, permanent disability, or wrongful death. In some cases, multiple defendants may be involved, including the manufacturer, distributor, testing laboratory, hospital, prescribing provider, or seller.
In New York, a claim involving a defective medical product may allow recovery for both economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost current and future wages
- Permanent disability
- Permanent disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
These cases often require close review of medical records, product warnings, regulatory history, and expert testimony to determine whether the device itself contributed to the injury.
Defective Furniture Liability
Furniture is meant to make homes and workplaces safer, more comfortable, and more functional. But when furniture is poorly designed, improperly assembled, or sold without adequate warnings, it can cause serious injuries, especially when the product tips, collapses, breaks, or exposes hidden hazards.
Furniture-related product liability cases can involve both household and office products, and injuries may occur because of defects in the product itself or negligent installation work.
Common types of furniture accidents include:
- Chairs or couches collapsing
- TVs or other furniture tipping over
- Cribs or beds falling apart
- Falling wall-mounted objects
- Exposed electrical work connected to furniture or fixtures
These accidents can be especially dangerous for children, older adults, and anyone using the furniture in a normal, expected way.
Under New York product liability law, furniture claims may be based on three main types of defects:
- Design defects, where the product is inherently unsafe even if made correctly
- Manufacturing defects, where something went wrong in production
- Marketing defects, where the company failed to provide proper instructions or warnings
A successful claim generally requires proof that the defective condition caused the injury and that the injury was a foreseeable result of the defect. In some cases, responsibility may extend beyond the furniture maker to include an installer, contractor, retailer, or another affiliated party.
When unsafe furniture causes harm in a home, office, or commercial setting, a product liability case may help determine whether the problem stemmed from defective design, poor manufacturing, or inadequate warnings.
Defective E-Cigarettes
E-cigarettes have come under increased scrutiny in recent years, particularly as many manufacturers marketed them as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. In reality, some users have suffered serious health complications linked to vaping products, including severe lung injuries and chronic respiratory conditions. In addition to these health risks, the devices themselves can also be dangerous when they are defectively designed or manufactured.
One of the most serious hazards associated with e-cigarettes involves their lithium-ion batteries, which may overheat, explode, or catch fire. These failures can cause significant injuries, including burns, facial injuries, hand injuries, and property damage. In other cases, consumers may suffer harm because the product contained dangerous chemicals, was improperly labeled, or was sold without adequate warnings about known risks.
Defective e-cigarette claims may involve issues such as:
- Overheating or exploding batteries
- Defective charging systems
- Dangerous design flaws
- Failure to warn about known health risks
- Harmful chemicals or contaminants in vaping products
As with other product liability claims, responsibility may extend to multiple parties, including the manufacturer, battery supplier, distributor, or retailer. When an unsafe vaping product causes injury or illness, legal action may help uncover whether the product was defectively designed, improperly manufactured, or sold without sufficient warnings to consumers.
Do You Have a Case?
During our meetings and consultations, we will take the opportunity to determine the extent and legitimacy of your case. We will analyze your personal account of events in conjunction with the available evidence. This may include everything from photographs of your injuries to official medical records. In order to build a strong case, we believe that early investigation is essential; that’s why it’s important that you contact us as soon as possible so that we can begin our investigation.
Why Choose Leav & Steinberg for Your Product Liability Case?
Our experienced legal team believes in being responsive and easily accessible. We will even provide personal phone numbers if necessary. Our staff is also multilingual, allowing us to accommodate clients who speak English, Spanish, Albanian, and Portuguese.
Unlike other firms, we utilize a case management system that helps us store and manage information more efficiently. We are able to track partner changes within opposing firms and seamlessly access scanned mail and client contact information—keeping your records up to date and easy to access. When it comes to trial services, we employ graphics professionals to create courtroom graphics that will make it easier to understand the facts of your case.
Approaching $10,000,000.00 for a Product Liability Case (FEB 2026)
Confidential resolution approaching $10,000,000.00 reached by Partners Edward Steinberg & Daniela Henriques in connection with a furniture accident resulting in catastrophic injuries. Furniture failure due to faulty installation and injured both of our clients. Both were doctors visiting New York to see family. From the outset, partner Edward Steinberg secured the furniture and did all the necessary work to make sure the client’s rights were protected and they would have access to Court. After lengthy litigation and negotiations, along with motions practice the parties reached a confidentiality agreement and settlement; the details of which are confidential. As, such we are not able to share the details of the parties, the precise amounts or the defenses. Needless to say, the family was able to obtain full justice and a recovery that will provide for their future need.
NYC Product Liability Lawyers FAQ
What is strict liability for products in NY?
Strict liability in New York holds that a manufacturer or seller is responsible for injuries caused by a defective product, regardless of intent or negligence. If a product is unsafe due to design, manufacturing, or inadequate warnings, victims can recover compensation without proving fault.
What are the three typical claims for a product liability case?
Product liability claims are generally based on three legal theories: design defect, manufacturing defect, and failure to warn. Each focuses on whether the product was inherently flawed, improperly made, or lacked adequate safety instructions.
What does product liability not cover?
Product liability does not apply when injuries result from improper use, intentional misuse, or alterations made after purchase. Manufacturers are not typically responsible if the product was safe when sold, but later modified or used in unforeseeable ways.
What are the criteria for product liability?
The criteria for product liability require that the plaintiff prove a defective product, intended use, causation, and resulting damages. This means showing the product was unreasonably dangerous and directly caused injury while being used as intended.
What constitutes a lawsuit for product liability?
A product liability lawsuit arises when a defective or unsafe product causes injury, illness, or death. Claims can be filed against manufacturers, distributors, or retailers who failed to provide safe goods to consumers.
How to win a product liability lawsuit?
Winning a product liability case depends on presenting credible evidence that shows the product was defective and directly caused harm. Expert testimony, medical records, and product testing often strengthen the claim.
How long do I have to file a product liability claim in New York?
The statute of limitations for product liability in New York is generally three years from the date of injury. Acting promptly ensures your right to pursue damages is preserved.
Our Experience
Founded in 1999, we have decades of trial and settlement experience. Along with helping clients who are facing products liability cases, we have also helped clients receive settlements of hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars in damages in other practice areas. This includes medical malpractice, train accidents, bus accidents, and construction accidents. View our client results for more details, but please keep in mind that each case is different, and settlement results may vary.
We serve clients throughout New York City, including Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the surrounding areas. Give us a call today at 212-766-5222, or use our contact form to request your free consultation.
If a defective product caused your injury, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our Manhattan or Bronx product liability lawyers today to schedule a consultation.