Following exposure to a defective product and discovering any injury or illness that may have resulted, you must take the right steps to build a potential case. The following are the specific steps to take if a defective product causes any injury to you: Follow Your Doctor’s Orders The first step is to seek medical treatment, which will provide you with a path to recovery and medical records that may help prove the extent of your injuries. A doctor will likely prescribe a specific treatment and encourage you to continue with it. Obey your doctor's orders and continue with your designated treatment plan, or you could inadvertently compromise your case. If you have problems with your current treatment plan or doctor, consult the doctor before making any changes. You may discover a safe alternative that helps you continue recovering and keeps your medical records consistent. Collect Evidence to Support a Lawsuit You'll need plenty of evidence to build a strong product liability case and prove that the product involved was defective. There are multiple crucial pieces of evidence to collect in these cases. These items include the product itself, if possible, receipts received when buying the product, and any instructions or labels that came with it. However, this evidence may not be easy to obtain if you sustained injuries from a product you bought second-hand, did not purchase, or did not use. In these instances, you should try to get as much evidence as possible through witnesses and other people involved in a potential case. Speak With an Attorney Before beginning any product liability case, consult a product liability attorney in Chico to discuss a prospective case. An attorney can meet with you in a free case evaluation to discuss the facts involved and determine if you have a valid claim. If the attorney decides to handle your case, they can begin providing representation and various services to help you recover compensation. A good attorney will have the experience and resources needed to handle every aspect of a product liability case. In the process, your attorney can: Complete a thorough investigation into a case Identify the specific product defect involved Collect as much evidence as possible to prove that injuries resulted from defective products Present all relevant evidence to the liable party, including insurance adjusters and courts Seek compensation using a specific theory of recovery, such as strict liability Take your case to trial if needed If you need dependable legal counsel, the lawyers at Reiner, Slaughter & Frankel, LLP, can perform all of the above services to seek compensation in a product liability case.