Tobacco Personal Injury Issues
One of the most important things that has happened over the last few years is the addition of many warning labels to consumer products. Companies have started to put warning labels on products that are potentially dangerous because of the risks that they have for customers. Some products that are required to have these labels are things like cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and alcohol. The risks of using these products are clearly written on the packaging and additional information can be found by calling the manufacturer or by doing some research on the Internet.
Many of these labels are now required because the government has mandated that these products be labeled but also because the companies want to cover themselves in the event of a lawsuit. Selling a dangerous product to someone without telling them about the risks is irresponsible and actually illegal. The companies that make these products have likely gone through litigation against them for not having appropriate labels advertising either the risk of using the product or the addictive nature of the products.
Many of the products that now have labels did not have such warnings even as of a few years ago, or if they did, the warning labels did not fully disclose the risk. This means hat some people who have used these products and are now suffering health problems associated with the use of the products may have a case against the companies for medical bills and other personal injury damages.
One of the largest industries where this is occurring is with the tobacco industry. While there were known health risks associated with smoking and using other tobacco products as far back as the 1960s, there was no formal warning as to the addictive nature of nicotine. This may mean that you have a case against the tobacco industry if you smoked before there was an addiction warning on the packaging of the products you used.
One resource that you will be able to use to inform you of your rights is a lawyer. A Waco personal injury lawyer will be able to tell you if you have a case. Since each situation is unique you may have a case while someone else in a very similar situation does not. Hiring a lawyer can actually be very helpful, not only because they will be able to help you figure out if you have a case, but will also be able to represent you against the companies that you have a case against. A lawyer will also be able to help you with the legal processes that are associated with getting some kind of settlement and walk you through the paperwork and necessary procedures.
Choosing a lawyer can be very important because the lawyer you choose will ultimately hold most of the responsibility in getting you the money for your damages. Do some research so you don't find yourself with a lawyer that is difficult to work with or does not have the necessary experience to win your case. A little bit of research will go a long way in getting you some kind of settlement against tobacco companies for not having labels on their products about the addictive properties of nicotine.