New Orleans
When a product you trusted turns out to be dangerous, the company that made it should answer for the harm it caused, not you.
The Voorhies Law Firm represents people injured by defective products, from household goods to industrial equipment, and we build the case to hold manufacturers accountable under Louisiana’s product liability law.
A product liability claim arises when a defective or unreasonably dangerous product causes injury during normal, expected use.
That can include:
Products get lost, discarded, or repaired before their defect can ever be documented.
Which is why these cases often turn on technical evidence, engineering analysis, recall history, and internal company records, so early legal involvement matters.
Product liability claims in Louisiana are governed almost entirely by a single, specific statute.
The Louisiana Products Liability Act is the exclusive legal remedy against a manufacturer for damage caused by its product.
To succeed in this type of claim, you generally need to show the product was unreasonably dangerous in one of the following four, recognized ways:
And the “manufacturer” that is construed broadly under the Act can reach designers, component-part makers, and sellers who label a product as their own or control its design or specifications.
For injuries on or after July 1, 2024, you generally have two years from the date of injury to bring a product liability claim, under Louisiana Civil Code article 3493.1, twice as long as the one-year window Louisiana used to allow.
Injuries before that date typically still fall under the prior one-year deadline in former article 3492, so knowing your exact injury date is an important first step.
For incidents occurring on or after January 1, 2026, a claimant who is found to be 51% or more at fault is barred from recovery under the amended article 2323.
Anything that is below that threshold allows for the damages to be reduced proportionally.
In product cases, fault disputes often center on whether the product was misused outside its reasonably anticipated use.
STEP 1
Free consultation.
Tell us about the product and what happened. We’ll give you an honest assessment at no cost.
STEP 2
Product preservation.
We move quickly to secure the product itself, its packaging, and any related instructions before they’re lost.
STEP 3
Technical investigation.
We bring in engineers and other experts to identify exactly how and why the product failed.
STEP 4
Records and recall review.
We dig into manufacturing records, complaint histories, and any recall activity tied to the product.
STEP 5
Damage calculation.
We total up medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any ongoing care the injury requires.
STEP 6
Demand and negotiation.
We present your claim to the manufacturer and its insurer and negotiate from a position of strength.
STEP 7
Filing suit, if needed.
If a fair resolution isn’t offered, we file before your deadline and build your case for trial.
STEP 8
Resolution.
You receive your compensation, whether through settlement or verdict.
We handle product liability claims involving:
Behind every product liability case is a person whose life changed because a company put a profitable product ahead of a safe one.
We’re here to hold that company accountable.
Across all our practice areas, The Voorhies Law Firm has recovered over $100 million for our clients, and a well-funded manufacturer’s legal team doesn’t change how thoroughly we build a case.
Past results are not a guarantee of future success, what your case is worth depends on its own specific facts.
Manufacturers have legal teams built to make defective product claims disappear before they ever reach a courtroom.
Richard P. Voorhies III and the team at The Voorhies Law Firm have spent years standing up to exactly that kind of pressure on behalf of many Louisiana families.
Our attorneys are recognized by Super Lawyers, the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums, and other legal organizations.
But what we want our clients to notice day to day is much more direct: a real relationship with your attorney.
It helps enormously if you do. Preserving the product, its packaging, and any instructions is one of the most important things you can do for a product liability claim. If the product has already been discarded, repaired, or lost, tell your attorney immediately so other evidence can be gathered.
Generally, the LPLA targets manufacturers rather than ordinary retailers. There are exceptions, including sellers who label a product as their own or who control its design or specifications. An attorney can evaluate who the proper defendants are in your case.
The LPLA requires that the injury occur during a ‘reasonably anticipated use’ of the product, which is broader than only the exact use described in the manual. Whether your use qualifies is a fact-specific question worth discussing with an attorney.
Generally two years from the date of injury for incidents on or after July 1, 2024, under Louisiana Civil Code article 3493.1.
Nothing upfront. We handle product liability cases on a contingency fee basis, so we only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
