If you are injured after using faulty goods, your claim for compensation will normally be against the manufacturer or importer of the product but, where it is not possible to identify either of those, it may be possible to claim against the retailer which sold the product to you.

To succeed in any claim for compensation, you will have to show that the product which caused injury was faulty in some way. In other words, it fell below the standard you could reasonably expect from a product of that type. For example, a manufacturer would be at fault if a child's toy was coated in paint containing lead and a suppplier of soft fizzy drinks would be liable if a glass bottle  shattered in hot weather because the glass was not of the right thickness or quality.

Unless the defect is obvious and the manufacturer accepts liability, it will usually be necessary to obtain expert evidence to prove your case. Accident Aid will get this for you.

If you are unfortunate enough to sustain injury through using a faulty product, there are certain steps you should take :- 

• Retain the faulty or defective product
• Keep any instructions, receipts, warnings which came with the product
• Make a note of exactly how the accident happened and retain this
• Take a note of the names and addresses of any witnesses to the accident

Finally, call Accident Aid . We will usually be able to advise you straight away whether you have a good claim in principle.

 We will also advise about any further immediate steps you should take.