The design of your watercraft is the reason you purchased it. Perhaps it had a sleek, modern look to it or was the color you wanted. However, the design itself may have gone through an inappropriate procedure at the manufacturing plant which resulted in a deadly defect to the watercraft. If you or a loved one were injured in a watercraft accident based on the design flaws of the watercraft, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries.

The product design of watercraft plays a pivotal role in the entire manufacturing process and dictates the steps the manufacturer should follow in the assembly. A design flaw discovered in any step of the manufacturing process can have a later impact on the ability of the watercraft to run smoothly and safely. Therefore, it is often not the fault of the manufacturer solely but often the creator or marketer of the watercraft and any company which may have had an impact in the overall design. One piece of the watercraft may have been imported from a different company which was the defective product. Using a defective product in the design of the watercraft could lead to disastrous results.

The theory of product liability leads to an investigation to discover which step in the manufacturing process (and therefore which manufacturer) was responsible for the design flaw and therefore the resulting injuries. As the victim of a design flaw leading to a watercraft accident, you are entitled to damages for your injuries, including:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Future earnings
• Pain and suffering

A manufacturer holds a duty to the end user of the product. The manufacturer must place warning labels on any product which has the potential to be used in a manner outside of its normal use. The manufacturer must additionally warn any end users if the manufacturer discovers a serious product defect that impacts all the watercraft. This warning will be distributed through a recall of the watercraft itself so that the watercraft operators will not suffer any injuries. However, if a manufacturer is not aware of the design flaw, it has no reason to issue a recall until an accident occurs. Therefore, it is important for a number of reasons, including the safety of others, to bring a claim against the manufacturer as soon as possible regarding a design flaw.

The design of a watercraft should provide safety and comfort to owners and passengers, not serious injuries. If you or a loved one have been injured in a watercraft accident based on flawed designs inherent in the watercraft itself, do not hesitate to contact the Malley Law Firm. Tony Malley has experience in assisting clients with claims against large manufacturers which have created watercraft with design flaws. These manufacturers should be held liable for their negligent manufacture of watercraft and the resulting injuries that occur. Contact our Texas offices today for your initial free consultation.