Product Liability Lawyers in Reading, PA

When a defective product injures you, you’re not just filing a claim against a company. You’re going up against legal teams whose job is to minimize what you recover. Liever, Hyman & Potter has represented wrongful injury victims and their families since 1959, and every one of our four attorneys has devoted their entire career to wrongful injury and death claims. No real estate. No business contracts. A combined 115-plus years of practice, all of it focused on people who were hurt through no fault of their own.

The legal community recognizes us as “The Lawyers’ Lawyers”: a reputation built on results and reflected in the number of clients who reach us through referrals from other law firms, former clients, and community members who know our record.

If you’ve been injured by a defective product in the Reading area, call us at (610) 885-1991 for a free case review. You pay nothing in attorney fees or advanced case expenses unless we recover for you.

How Defective Products Cause Harm

Product liability holds manufacturers, distributors, and retailers legally responsible for harm caused by unsafe or defective products. Pennsylvania recognizes three categories of defect:

• Design defect: A flaw built into the product’s design before manufacturing begins, meaning every unit poses the same risk
• Manufacturing defect: An error during production that causes a specific unit or batch to deviate from its intended design
• Failure to warn: Inadequate instructions or warnings about risks the product poses when used as intended

Claims arise from a wide range of products: vehicles and auto parts, medications and medical devices, household appliances, children’s products, and contaminated food, among others. A product doesn’t need to have been recalled for a claim to exist. A recall can support a claim, but the absence of one doesn’t bar recovery.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

In Pennsylvania, liability in a product claim can reach any party in the supply chain: the original manufacturer, component part makers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers. You don’t need to pinpoint a single responsible party before moving forward. Pennsylvania law allows claims against multiple parties, and the type of defect often points toward which parties bear primary responsibility. A design defect typically implicates the manufacturer. A manufacturing defect may involve a production facility or component supplier. A failure-to-warn defect can reach both the manufacturer and the seller.

Identifying every potentially liable party from the outset protects your ability to recover fully. That’s where experienced legal counsel can make a concrete difference.

Pennsylvania Strict Liability & Filing Deadlines

Pennsylvania’s strict liability standard is significant for injured consumers. Under it, a manufacturer or seller can be held responsible for a defective product even without proof of negligence. You must show that the product was defective, that you used it as intended, and that the defect caused your injury. Depending on the facts, claims may also be brought under negligence or breach of warranty theories.

Pennsylvania’s modified comparative fault standard allows recovery as long as you’re not more than 50 percent responsible for your injury. Your recovery is reduced proportionally by your share of fault, if any is assigned.

The statute of limitations for product liability claims in Pennsylvania is generally two years from the date of injury under 42 Pa.C.S. §5524. Missing that deadline can permanently bar your right to recover. The discovery rule may extend the period when an injury wasn’t immediately apparent or its connection to the product wasn’t knowable at the time. Preserve the product, its packaging, instructions, and your purchase records from the moment you suspect a defect.

Damages Available in a Product Liability Claim

Recoverable damages in a Pennsylvania product liability claim can include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. Property damage caused by the defective product may also be recoverable. In cases involving reckless indifference to consumer safety, Pennsylvania courts may award punitive damages to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct.

The value of any claim depends on the severity of the injury, the extent of financial losses, and the long-term impact on the victim’s life. A free consultation with our attorneys is the right place to start evaluating what your case may be worth.

Why Injury Victims Choose Liever, Hyman & Potter

In a recent three-year period, our attorneys recovered more than 500 awards and settlements, including numerous million-dollar and multi-million-dollar results. Since our founding in 1959, we’ve won thousands of awards and settlements for victims and their families, more than any other firm located in the Berks and Schuylkill County area.

Lead attorney John R. Badal was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1978 and to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1991. His entire legal career has been devoted to representing wrongful injury victims. He holds membership in both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, recognitions tied to documented case results at those dollar thresholds, and has served as Chairman of both the Civil Litigation Section and the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Berks County Bar Association. Every case we accept is carefully reviewed and assigned to a Civil Trial attorney qualified to handle it.

Our fee structure has two components. We charge no attorney fees until we recover money for you. We also advance case expenses on your behalf, and you don’t repay those advanced expenses unless we make a recovery. Both commitments are defined clearly in the initial representation agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Two-Year Filing Deadline Ever Start Later Than the Date of Injury?

It can. Pennsylvania’s discovery rule may extend the filing period when an injury wasn’t immediately apparent or when its connection to a specific product wasn’t reasonably knowable at the time of injury. The specific extension available depends on the facts of your case. Don’t assume extra time applies without speaking to an attorney first.

If a Product Was Recalled, Can I Still File a Personal Injury Claim?

Yes. A recall doesn’t eliminate your right to pursue a personal injury claim, and it doesn’t bar individual recovery. In fact, a recall can strengthen a claim by demonstrating the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Your right to compensation for the injuries you suffered exists independently of whether a recall was issued.

What Should I Do Immediately After Being Injured by a Defective Product?

Preserve the product exactly as it is. Don’t attempt to repair or alter it. Photograph the product, its packaging, and your injury. Keep the purchase receipt, warranty, and any instructions that came with it. Seek medical attention and document every treatment you receive. Contact a product liability attorney before speaking with the manufacturer or its insurer.

Talk to a Product Liability Lawyer in Reading for Free

If you or a family member was injured by a defective product, contact Liever, Hyman & Potter to review your case at no cost. There are no attorney fees and no repayment of case expenses we advance on your behalf unless we recover money for you.

Call (610) 885-1991 today to schedule your free consultation with Liever, Hyman & Potter.