North Carolina Product Liability Lawyer
A defective product can turn an ordinary day into a life-altering injury. At Riddle and Riddle Injury Lawyers, we believe Justice Counts™ and we’re ready to hold negligent manufacturers accountable so you can focus on recovery.
Manufacturers have a legal and ethical responsibility to test their products and ensure they do not pose hidden dangers to the public. To increase profit margins or meet tight deadlines, some companies cut corners, ignore safety protocols, or fail to warn consumers about known risks. When corporate negligence happens, innocent people face severe, life-altering injuries.
At Riddle and Riddle Injury Lawyers, we believe that Justice Counts™. If a defective product harmed you or someone you love, our legal team provides clear, assertive legal representation to help you recover. A dedicated North Carolina product liability lawyer from our firm can help you understand your legal options and pursue the financial recovery you deserve. Contact our firm today at 800-525-7111 to discuss your situation.
Why Choose Product Liability Lawyers from Riddle & Riddle?
Facing a major corporation or a multi-billion-dollar insurance provider is not a fair fight. These companies employ large legal teams designed to minimize payouts and delay the compensation you deserve. We bring the resources, dedication, and legal knowledge needed to level the playing field.
Our firm has recovered over $900 million since 2000, backed by more than 171 years of combined experience protecting the rights of individuals and families. We are committed to the communities we serve, building relationships rooted in honesty, transparency, and trust.
An unexpected injury creates immediate financial stress, from mounting medical bills to lost income. That’s why we operate on a contingency fee basis: a free consultation, no upfront costs, and no attorney fees unless we win your case. We are available 24/7 to help you begin the recovery process.
How North Carolina Law Defines Product Defects
To secure compensation under state law, an investigation must establish exactly how the product became dangerous. Liability typically rests on proving one of three specific types of product defects.
- Design Defects: These flaws occur before the product is ever built. A design defect means the actual blueprint or engineering of the item is inherently unsafe, rendering every single unit produced dangerous for consumer use.
- Manufacturing Defects: These errors happen during the assembly or production phase. Even if the product design is entirely safe, a mistake at the factory, the use of substandard materials, or poor quality control can cause a specific batch of products to become hazardous.
- Failure to Warn: Also known as marketing defects or insufficient labeling, these claims involve products that may be safe for their intended use but carry non-obvious risks. Manufacturers must provide clear instructions and prominent warning labels regarding side effects, drug interactions, or hidden operational dangers.
Unlike many states, North Carolina does not recognize strict liability in these claims. A plaintiff must show the manufacturer acted unreasonably, not just that the product was defective.
Active Product Liability Investigations
Defects can impact almost any item on the market, from household goods to advanced medical treatments. Our firm actively investigates claims involving several widespread, harmful products that have impacted communities locally and nationwide:
Toxic Chemical Exposure and Paraquat
Paraquat is a highly restrictive, strong chemical herbicide widely used in agricultural settings. Recent scientific data links exposure to Paraquat (through inhalation, skin absorption, or accidental ingestion) to a significantly increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. We work closely with agricultural workers, groundskeepers, and rural residents who developed neurological conditions after handling or living near areas where this chemical was used.
Talcum Powder and Cancer Risks
For decades, popular talc-based consumer products were marketed as safe for daily family use. However, thousands of lawsuits now signal that certain talcum powders contained trace amounts of asbestos, a known carcinogen. Long-term use of these products has been linked to ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and mesothelioma. If you used talc products regularly and later received a cancer diagnosis, our legal team can help review your medical history.
Chemical Hair Relaxers
Recent public health studies have revealed a troubling connection between the regular use of chemical hair straightening products and elevated rates of uterine cancer. Many of these cosmetics contained endocrine-disrupting chemicals that penetrate the scalp. We stand with women who used these straighteners frequently and subsequently faced severe reproductive health diagnoses.
Dangerous Medications and Defective Medical Devices
We trust modern medicine to heal us, not cause additional harm. Our firm reviews claims involving dangerous prescription medications, including recent litigation surrounding weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, as well as complications from failing medical devices like defective hernia mesh. When pharmaceutical companies market drugs without fully disclosing severe adverse side effects, they must be held accountable.
Critical Deadlines: North Carolina Statutes of Limitation & Repose
North Carolina enforces two statutory deadlines for product liability claims: a three-year statute of limitations and a twelve-year statute of repose.
[Date of Injury/Discovery]
Statute of Limitations: 3 Years
- Must file a lawsuit or settle your claim.
Statute of Repose: 12-Year Maximum Hard Cap
- Based on the original purchase date of the product.
- Claims barred after 12 years, regardless of injury.
The statute of limitations gives an injured party three years from the date of injury, or from when the illness was reasonably discovered, to file suit. Missing this window means the court will likely dismiss the case, and the right to compensation is lost.
The statute of repose adds a separate twelve-year cap, measured from the date the product was originally sold or delivered to its first consumer. If a machine, vehicle component, or consumer appliance was purchased more than twelve years ago, a claim against the manufacturer is barred, even if the defect causes a severe injury today. Because these two deadlines interact, contacting a product liability lawyer promptly is the best way to protect your rights.
What Kinds of Products May Be Defective?
Our attorneys are experienced with a wide range of defective product liability cases, and the specific product types we handle are detailed below.
- Car Parts (seatbelts, airbags, tires, etc.)
- Chemicals (herbicides, pesticides, industrial chemicals, commercial cleaners, etc.)
- Toys (bikes, wagons, etc.)
- Lawn Products (lawnmowers, etc.)
- Medicines & Pharmaceuticals
- Medical Devices and Equipment
- Electronics (televisions, stereos, hand-held devices, etc.)
- Factory Equipment
- Tools (power drills, etc.)
Why Choose Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers?
Results for Injured Victims
At Riddle & Riddle, our personal injury lawyers fight hard for justice for those injured due to defective products. If you believe manufacturing or design defects caused your injuries, then we can help. With offices across North Carolina and the resources and knowledge to assist clients in a variety of cases nationwide, we are ready to help however we can. Our goal is to deliver justice through compensation to our clients to help them cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. There are never any attorney fees unless we win your product liability case and you receive compensation.
This settlement changed me and my family’s lives.
Linda B., Riddle & Riddle Client
Since 1985, our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for injury victims, including more than $900 million since 2000 alone (see disclaimer below). Our North Carolina product liability lawyers have been recognized by many prestigious organizations and awards (see disclaimer below), including:
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum (Gene Riddle and Darren Dawson)
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum (Gene Riddle, Alex Riddle, Darren Dawson)
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (Gene Riddle, Alex Riddle, Darren Dawson)
- The National Association of Distinguished Counsel (Gene Riddle)
- AV Preeminent (Martindale-Hubbell) (Gene Riddle and Adam Smith)
- Super Lawyers (Gene Riddle, Adam Smith, and Darren Dawson)
- Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” (Alex Riddle)
- The Litigator Award (Gene Riddle)
For a FREE, no-obligation consultation with an experienced product liability lawyer serving clients in North Carolina (and mass tort clients across the United States), please call(800) 525-7111.
The consultation is free and you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your case and you receive compensation.
Call us today and let’s review your claim.