When a product you trusted causes serious harm, the impact goes beyond physical injury. You may be facing mounting medical bills, lost time at work, and the frustration of knowing this should not have happened. Bretz Injury Law represents people in Kansas City and throughout Kansas who have been injured by dangerous or defective products, and we bring more than 30 years of trial experience to every case.
Product liability law exists to hold manufacturers, distributors, and sellers accountable when their products cause harm. These cases are often complex because they involve technical evidence, corporate defendants with large legal teams, and questions about how a product was designed, built, or labeled. You need an attorney who understands how to investigate these claims and is prepared to take them to court.
Many people are unsure whether they even have a case after a product injures them. They may wonder if they used the product incorrectly or if they are partly to blame. An experienced product liability attorney can evaluate the facts and help you understand your legal options.
What Is Product Liability?
Product liability is an area of law that holds companies responsible when a product they made, sold, or distributed injures someone. Unlike many personal injury claims, Kansas product liability cases can sometimes be pursued even without proving the company was careless. The focus is on whether the product itself was unreasonably dangerous.
This area of law covers a wide range of everyday items. Household appliances, vehicles, medical devices, prescription drugs, power tools, children’s toys, and food products can all be the basis of a product liability claim if they cause injury due to a defect.
Types of Product Defects in Kansas
Product liability claims in Kansas generally fall into three categories. Each one points to a different stage where something went wrong before the product reached you.
- Design defects occur when the product’s plan or blueprint makes it dangerous, even when built correctly
- Manufacturing defects happen during production, meaning the product differs from what was intended and becomes unsafe
- Marketing defects involve missing warnings, unclear instructions, or failure to inform consumers about known risks
Understanding which type of defect caused your injury matters because it determines who may be held responsible and what evidence your attorney needs to gather.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Defective Product?
In a product liability case, more than one party may share responsibility. The chain of distribution includes everyone involved in getting the product from concept to consumer.
This can include the company that designed the product, the manufacturer that built it, the distributor that shipped it, and the retailer that sold it. In some cases, a company that supplied a defective part or component may also be liable. Your attorney’s job is to identify every responsible party so that your claim accounts for the full scope of accountability.
What if the company that made the product is based outside of Kansas?
Many product liability cases involve manufacturers located in other states or even other countries. Matthew Bretz is admitted to practice in multiple federal courts, including the U.S. District Court for Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri, and Nebraska. This allows Bretz Injury Law to pursue claims against companies regardless of where they are based, as long as the injury occurred in Kansas or the product was sold here.
After An Accident, Put Our Team On Your Side.
Since 1997, we’ve fought for Kansas families after serious accidents and injuries. Let our team protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Proving a Product Liability Claim
To succeed in a product liability case, your attorney must show that the product was defective, that the defect existed when it left the defendant’s control, and that the defect caused your injury. This requires careful investigation and often involves expert testimony from engineers, medical professionals, or product safety specialists.
What evidence is needed in a product liability case?
Key evidence includes the product itself (if available), medical records showing your injuries, documentation of how the product was used, purchase records, recall notices or prior complaints about the product, and expert analysis of the defect. Preserving this evidence early is critical. If you have been injured by a product, keep the product and its packaging and do not attempt to repair or alter it.
How long do I have to file a product liability claim in Kansas?
Kansas has a statute of limitations that sets a deadline for filing your lawsuit. Missing this deadline can prevent you from recovering any compensation at all. Because product liability cases require extensive investigation before filing, contacting an attorney soon after your injury gives your legal team the time needed to build a strong case.
Common Products That Lead to Liability Claims
Product liability cases arise from a wide range of items that people use and rely on every day. Some of the more common categories include defective auto parts such as tires, airbags, or braking systems. Dangerous pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices also lead to serious claims.
Household appliances with electrical or fire hazards, defective power tools and machinery, contaminated food products, and unsafe children’s products are all areas where Bretz Injury Law has the experience to investigate and pursue claims. In many of these cases, the manufacturer was aware of a potential danger but chose not to issue a warning or a recall.
Compensation in Product Liability Cases
If a defective product caused your injury, you may be entitled to recover damages that reflect both the financial and personal toll of what happened. Kansas law recognizes several types of compensation in these cases.
Economic damages cover medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, lost earning capacity, and the cost of ongoing care or rehabilitation. Non-economic damages address pain and suffering, permanent disability or disfigurement, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In wrongful death cases involving a defective product, surviving family members may also recover funeral expenses and the value of lost companionship.
How is the value of a product liability case determined?
Case value depends on the severity of your injuries, the strength of the evidence linking the defect to your harm, the number of responsible parties, and the available insurance or corporate resources. Catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe burns, or amputations typically result in higher recovery because the long-term impact on your life is greater.
Why Trial Preparation Matters in Product Liability Cases
Product liability defendants are often large corporations with experienced legal teams and significant resources. They are prepared to fight claims aggressively. If your attorney is not ready to take your case to trial, the other side knows it and will offer less in settlement.
Matthew Bretz prepares every case as if it will go to court. This trial-ready approach gives his clients leverage during negotiations because manufacturers and their insurers understand that Bretz Injury Law will follow through. After more than 30 years of practice and experience training trial lawyers through the Keenan Trial Institute, Matthew Bretz brings the skill and persistence these cases demand.
His early career defending corporations in catastrophic injury cases at a major Los Angeles firm gave him firsthand insight into how the defense side operates. He uses that knowledge today to build stronger cases for the people he represents.
How Matthew Bretz Approaches Product Liability Cases
Matthew Bretz began his career working defense cases at Engstrom Lipscomb & Lack in Los Angeles, handling aviation and catastrophic injury litigation. He switched to representing injured people more than 25 years ago because he wanted to stand beside the people who were harmed, not the companies that caused the harm.
That background gives him a unique advantage in product liability cases. He understands how corporations and their insurers build their defenses, and he uses that knowledge to anticipate their strategies and counter them. His approach is direct, thorough, and focused on each client’s individual situation. He learned from his mentor, Ralph Lockwood, that every client deserves personal attention and a clear plan for their case.
What to Expect When You Contact Bretz Injury Law
Bretz Injury Law offers a free initial consultation for product liability cases. During this meeting, you will discuss the product that caused your injury, the circumstances of the incident, and the harm you have suffered. Your attorney will evaluate whether you have a viable claim and explain the steps involved in pursuing it.
There are no upfront legal fees. Bretz Injury Law handles product liability cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless your case results in a recovery.
What should I bring to my consultation?
If possible, bring the defective product and its packaging, any photographs of the product or your injuries, medical records related to your treatment, purchase receipts, warranty information, and any correspondence you have received from the manufacturer or retailer. If the product has been subject to a recall, bring that information as well.
Contact a Kansas City Product Liability Lawyer Today
If you or a family member has been seriously injured by a dangerous or defective product, Bretz Injury Law is ready to review your case. Call 913-392-6352 or submit a consultation request online. Matthew Bretz and his team focus on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, and they bring the trial experience and legal knowledge needed to hold manufacturers accountable.
Bretz Injury Law serves clients throughout Kansas, including Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka, Hutchinson, Salina, Garden City, Dodge City, Liberal, and Hays.