The technical and legal requirements for products in the commercial and private sector are increasing. At the same time, as a result of globalization, global suppliers often deliver to markets outside the EU, each with its own product requirements and special liability risks. Thus, the potential sources of errors in the design, manufacture, and distribution of products have steadily increased.
Law Offices of Jon Friedman are a personal injury law firm in Portland, Oregon.
The product liability itself and above all the confrontation with demands for the occurrence of a product defect is therefore only the last link in the chain from development to sales. When developing and placing a new product on the market, numerous product safety regulations must be observed to protect end-users. Development processes must, therefore, take the standards of the relevant regulations for the product to be developed into consideration. This concerns our own development as well as research and development contracts and co-operation.
Product safety is not limited to the period until it is ready for the market, ie the compatibility of the product with the aforementioned regulations or the correct drafting of operating or assembly instructions. Rather, in the second step, the production process must be planned under product safety aspects. Especially in subcontracting or contract manufacturing, many companies require the conclusion of quality assurance agreements to increase the safety of their products. The subject of product safety thus also covers the entire purchasing process of companies.
In sales, finally, the question arises about the insurability of product liability risks in Portland. Especially large distribution partners or the customers of suppliers require adequate insurance for product liability cases and recall costs. Hiring a Portland product liability lawyer can help your case. However, since not all risks can be insured in a purchase/delivery contract, the question arises for suppliers as to whether they can minimize such non-insurable risks through liability limitation clauses.
Especially in cross-border situations, the points mentioned often raise complex issues when the contracting party requires the fulfillment of the product safety regulations in the country of destination or the insurer does not know or does not want to take over a customary procedure in the other state.
For more information visit the personal injury law firm Law Offices of Jon Friedman in Portland dealing with product liability.