North Carolina Product Liability Lawyer
Product defects can affect almost anything you buy, use, or are exposed to. In recent years, our product liability lawyers have handled cases involving a wide range of harmful and defective products — including dangerous drugs (like Dupixent and Ozempic), defective medical devices (like hernia mesh), consumer hair care products (like chemical hair relaxers), and toxic chemical exposures (like Paraquat and talcum powder).
When manufacturers put profits ahead of consumer safety, the results can be catastrophic. Whether you suffered severe complications from a defective medical implant, developed cancer from a toxic personal care product, or experienced life-threatening side effects from a prescription medication, Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers is ready to stand up to powerful corporations on your behalf.
With over 171 years of combined legal experience and more than $900 million recovered for injury victims since 2000, our attorneys handle complex product liability, mass tort, and multi-district litigation (MDL) claims in North Carolina and nationwide.
There are no upfront costs and we don’t get paid unless you do. If we don’t recover compensation for you in your defective product case, you won’t pay any attorney fees. That’s our promise to you.
For a FREE, no-obligation consultation with an experienced product liability lawyer, contact us online or call us at (800) 525-7111 and let’s review your claim. You may be entitled to compensation, and our product liability lawyers would love to help you.
Product Liability Lawyers Serving North Carolina and the United States
In addition to serving clients in our native North Carolina, we also handle all types of mass tort and class action cases for clients across the United States.
Holding Negligent Manufacturers Accountable
In more than three decades serving injury victims, our product liability lawyers have strived to hold negligent manufacturers accountable for defective products that cause injury or death. Our personal injury lawyers have over 171 years of combined legal experience.
While some companies issue product recalls after a certain number of incidents and reports, sometimes dangerous products remain on the market for years. If you or a loved one sustained injuries due to a dangerous drug, defective medical device, unsafe consumer product, or toxic chemical exposure, then you may be able to recover compensation through a product liability claim. This type of action may also help remove defective products from circulation, protecting others.
Types of Product Defects
Liability in product defect claims generally depends on the source of the flaw, since virtually any product may contain one and the exact nature of a dangerous defect can vary widely.
There are 3 primary categories of product defects:
- Design defects — In some cases, the way a product is designed poses a danger to users. Certain medications may also contain design defects that cause serious health conditions or reactions. Generally, companies must perform exhaustive tests on these types of items to identify health risks. However, some companies overlook such tests or ignore the results.
- Manufacturing defects — Even if the design of an item is sound, negligence during the manufacturing process may cause deadly flaws. For example, the use of substandard materials and methods during the manufacture of tires can cause weak spots on the rubber. This increases the likelihood of a blowout.
- Insufficient labels — Some products are safe but only for a particular use. Therefore, manufacturers must include warning labels and clear instructions to prevent injuries. For example, medication labels must warn if the drug interacts poorly with other drugs. Failure to warn consumers with effective labels may cause a preventable injury.
Identifying the source of a defect requires an extensive investigation into the production process of an item. A North Carolina product liability lawyer from our law firm can take steps to find the liable party on your behalf.
Active Product Liability & Mass Tort Investigations
Our legal team is actively evaluating and filing claims across three primary categories of defective products:
Talcum Powder Lawsuits
Johnson & Johnson, maker of popular talc-based products, is facing dozens of lawsuits over dangerous talcum powder. Studies show that talc use can cause ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer, as well as mesothelioma. Additionally, the company may have known about these dangers for over 30 years but continued to market the product to women. In 2020, the FDA announced that it had discovered asbestos in Johnson & Johnson talcum powder, and the company subsequently announced it would stop selling talc-based products in North America.
Paraquat Weed Killer Lawsuits
Paraquat is a toxic weed killer (herbicide) often used in groundskeeping and agriculture. Paraquat contains a compound known as MPTP, which is thought to be linked to the development of Parkinson’s Disease in those who have been exposed to Paraquat through ingestion, inhalation, or absorption through the skin. Our Paraquat lawyers can help those affected seek compensation for Parkinson’s disease potentially linked to this dangerous weed killer.
Baby Food/Formula Lawsuits
Some liquid, cow milk–based baby formulas (including certain Enfamil and Similac products) have been linked to an increased risk of NEC, especially in premature infants—and this litigation involves only certain liquid formulas, not powdered. Separately, heavy metal–contaminated baby foods have been linked to possible cognitive and behavioral harms (including severe ADHD and autism), and we’re investigating claims involving Gerber, Beech-Nut, Nurture, Campbell, and others.
Hair Relaxer Cancer & Reproductive Injury Lawsuits
Chemical hair straighteners and relaxers(such as Dark & Lovely, Just for Me, Motions, and Soft & Beautiful) contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals and phthalates linked to severe reproductive health conditions. Major scientific research, including the NIH “Sister Study,” shows that frequent exposure to these chemical formulas significantly increases the risk of uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and severe uterine fibroids.
If you or a loved one regularly used chemical hair relaxers and were subsequently diagnosed with uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, or fibroids requiring a hysterectomy or major surgery, you may be eligible to join ongoing federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the manufacturers.
Dupixent Lawsuits
While Dupixent (dupilumab) is widely prescribed for severe eczema (atopic dermatitis) and asthma, emerging clinical evidence and federal lawsuits connect this injectable biologic to Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) and other non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Because early-stage CTCL lesions closely mirror ordinary eczema, critics allege the drug’s manufacturers failed to warn doctors and patients that Dupixent can mask, accelerate, or delay the diagnosis of underlying skin cancers.
You may have grounds for a pharmaceutical claim if you were prescribed Dupixent for eczema or asthma and were later diagnosed with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma, Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma, or related T-cell cancers.
Defective Hernia Mesh Lawsuits
Defective hernia repair mesh made with non-biocompatible synthetic materials or flawed designs frequently breaks down, migrates, or shrinks inside the body. These structural failures lead to severe, painful complications including mesh erosion, internal organ perforation, bowel obstructions, chronic infection, and hernia recurrence.
Our firm represents patients nationwide who underwent hernia repair surgery using surgical mesh between 2012 and the present and subsequently required—or currently need—a revision surgery, corrective procedure, or complete mesh removal.
Other Pharmaceutical & Defective Product Claims We Handle
In addition to Hair Relaxers, Dupixent, and Hernia Mesh, our North Carolina product liability attorneys handle a wide array of dangerous product claims, including:
Depo-Provera Lawsuits: Investigating brain tumors (meningiomas) linked to long-term use of the contraceptive injection.
Weight Loss & Diabetes Medications (GLP-1s): Claims involving severe gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) and intestinal blockages.
Defective Medical Implants: Hip implants, knee replacements, and transvaginal mesh.
Free Case Review
When a defective product causes harm, the manufacturer must be held responsible. From faulty equipment to dangerous medications, we fight to protect consumers from unsafe products.
Critical Deadlines: North Carolina Statutes of Limitation & Repose
If you were injured by a dangerous product in North Carolina, time is a critical factor:
Statute of Limitations: In North Carolina, you generally have 3 years from the date of injury (or discovery of harm) to file a personal injury claim.
Statute of Repose: North Carolina enforces a strict Statute of Repose, which sets an absolute outer deadline (typically 12 years from the date the product was first purchased for use) regardless of when the injury was discovered.
Mass Tort / Out-of-State Exceptions: For national MDLs and consolidated mass torts, deadline rules may vary based on the primary jurisdiction handling the litigation.
Because navigating these complex timelines is vital to protecting your rights, contacting an attorney as early as possible is recommended.
Product Liability Claims in Other States
In mass tort cases that we handle, there are often different statutes of limitations, deadlines, and requirements depending on the state.
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.