Springfield Product Liability Lawyer

When a household appliance sparks and burns, when a child’s toy breaks and causes choking, or when a medication’s hidden side effects land someone in the emergency room, the injured consumer’s first question is often “Who is responsible?” Under Massachusetts law, the answer is frequently broader than most people expect. Below is a comprehensive overview of product liability law in Springfield and throughout the Commonwealth. If you have been injured in Springfield by a defective or dangerous consumer product, our product liability attorney can explain your rights and legal options. Our attorneys can help you navigate the complex process of a Springfield personal injury lawsuit.

In Massachusetts, a product liability claim refers to any civil action arising from an injury caused by a defective or unreasonably dangerous product. State courts treat most cases as breach-of-warranty actions rather than traditional tort “strict-liability” suits. That is because the Legislature eliminated the old privity barrier in G.L. c. 106, § 2-318, allowing anyone foreseeably affected by a product, not just the direct purchaser, to sue the manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer. As the Supreme Judicial Court explained in Back v. Wickes, the implied warranty of merchantability now functions as the Commonwealth’s form of strict liability.

A product is “defective” when it fails to perform as safely as an ordinary consumer would expect. Massachusetts recognizes three broad categories:

• Manufacturing defects are one-off mistakes, such as contaminated food or a cracked weld in a bicycle frame.
• Design defects: flaws inherent in every unit, like a ladder that tends to slide because its feet lack rubber grips.
• Failure to warn or instruct: inadequate labeling, missing dosage information, or poor safety diagrams accompanying power tools.

Other sub-categories, such as packaging errors, marketing misrepresentations, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities in “smart” devices, are also increasingly litigated.

• Breach of implied warranty of merchantability (G.L. c. 106, § 2-314): the most common route, requiring proof that the product was defective and the defect caused your injury.
• Negligent design, manufacturing, or failure to warn: helpful when additional discovery is needed against a component supplier or third-party designer.
• Breach of express warranty– when packaging, advertising, or user manuals make specific safety promises.
• Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act (G.L. c. 93A): allows double or treble damages if the defendant’s conduct was “unfair or deceptive,” a powerful leverage tool in settlement negotiations.
• Wrongful-death actions (G.L. c. 229, § 2): for fatal injuries caused by defective products, allowing recovery for loss of reasonably expected net income, services, and companionship.

Because each theory has unique evidentiary requirements, retaining counsel early is essential.

• Three-year limitation period. Most product liability, personal injury, and breach of warranty claims must be filed within three years of the date you knew or reasonably should have known that a product caused your injury.
• Twelve-year statute of repose. Even if an injury surfaces later, Massachusetts bars any product liability suit filed more than twelve years after the product entered the stream of commerce. This hard deadline often upsets consumers who have been harmed by older medical implants, industrial machinery, or used vehicles.

A timely consultation with an attorney can prevent inadvertent dismissal.

Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence rule: an injured party may recover if their fault does not exceed 50 percent; recovery is barred at 51 percent or more. Typical defense themes include:

• Product misuse contrary to clear instructions
• Substantial alteration after sale (for example, removing a machine guard)
• “Open and obvious” dangers
• Compliance with federal regulatory standards (e.g., FDA clearance)

Skilled counsel combats these arguments with user-manual analysis, expert testing, and human-factors testimony.

Any entity in the distribution chain may share liability:

• Designers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
• Component suppliers
• Importers and distributors
• Brick-and-mortar or online retailers

In Western Massachusetts, most state-court filings are processed at Hampden Superior Court, located at 50 State Street, Springfield, which has jurisdiction over damages exceeding $50,000. Federal diversity and multi-district cases proceed in the U.S. District Court, Western Division, 300 State Street, just a few blocks away. Venue can shape discovery costs and jury pools, so strategic forum choice matters.

Successful product-liability actions hinge on technical evidence. Your legal team will typically:

• Secure and preserve the product in an evidence locker for both destructive and non-destructive testing.
• Photograph accident scenes, injuries, and relevant safety notices.
• Retrieve maintenance logs, recall notices, and design drawings through subpoenas.
• Retain mechanical engineers, biomedical experts, or warning specialists to reconstruct causation and propose feasible, safer alternatives.
• Document economic losses with vocational specialists and life-care planners.

Early evidence preservation letters prevent spoliation and preserve your rights.

Massachusetts law allows recovery for:

• Past and future medical bills, including rehabilitation at Baystate Medical Center or Mercy Medical Center
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, disfigurement, and emotional distress
• Household services and adaptive equipment costs
• Punitive-style multiple damages under c. 93A, where egregious conduct is proved
• Wrongful-death damages for surviving family members

Insurance coverage layers, from primary general liability to umbrella policies, often determine a claim's realistic value.

• Seek medical attention right away– prompt treatment creates a clear injury timeline.
• Preserve the product, keep every component, packaging, and receipt.
• Document the scene, photos, witness names, and incident-report numbers.
• Avoid social media discussions; defense counsel may weaponize posts.
• Report the incident to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the FDA, or the NHTSA.
• Call a qualified attorney; legal deadlines start running when an injury occurs.

The earlier Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers is involved, the better we can secure critical evidence and halt aggressive insurance tactics.

• Local courtroom experience. Our trial attorneys routinely appear before Hampden Superior Court and federal judges in the Springfield courthouse, giving us insight into procedural preferences and jury trends.
• Deep bench of experts. From metallurgists to pharmacologists, our firm maintains relationships with nationally recognized specialists whose expert testimony has won cases.
• Resources to match large manufacturers. Complex product-liability litigation can require substantial out-of-pocket costs for testing and expert witnesses. We advance those expenses so you can focus on healing.
• No fee unless we win. Contingency-fee representation aligns our interests with yours.
• Reputation for results. Defendants are aware that we are prepared to proceed to trial if a fair settlement is not offered.

When you retain us, you gain a strategic partner committed to maximizing your recovery while holding corporations accountable.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a defective product anywhere in Hampden County, contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers through our secure online form or call (413) 278-0645 for a free, no-obligation consultation. If you hire us, our seasoned attorneys will evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and begin an immediate investigation. Do not wait; the three-year statute of limitations and the twelve-year statute of repose are unforgiving deadlines.

Springfield Office

1500 Main St, 8th floor
Springfield, MA 01115
Phone: (413) 278-0645