JEFFERY HERNANDEZ: Oftentimes I encounter clients who are hesitant to do anything when it comes to going up against a big company. What I tell them is it doesn't matter who is the defendant. If they are liable, they are liable. And they're responsible for damages, whether it be medical damages, property damage, damages resulting from a wrongful death. If a person has to change a career because he was injured so badly. It doesn't matter who the manufacturer is or who was on the other side, they are responsible for compensating you for your injuries.
[GRAPHIC: Product safety is an obligation]
JEFFERY HERNANDEZ: A product designer, manufacturer and retailer has an obligation to ensure that a product that is being put out into the market is free of defects and is being used for its, for its intended use. If it's not being used for its intended use or if it is not free from defects and injuries occur as a result of the use of that product, the manufacturer, the designer and retailers in the chain of commerce may be liable for the injuries that are caused by the defective product.
[GRAPHIC: An attorney willing to fight big corporations]
JEFFERY HERNANDEZ: Well what often happens in a products liability case is you, you encounter a large manufacturer with lots of money, lots of lawyers, lots of insurance and they try to paper you to death by sending you mindless and needless discovery requests or motions to dismiss the case, knowing fully well that the case has validity. And what they try to do is create a war of attrition.
I don't play that game. I like to fight for my clients and make sure that I maximize their recovery. I retain my own experts who are able to assist me with uncovering information. And these experts are typically former employees or former consultants with these major manufacturers as well. They may be people who were involved in the design aspect of a particular product. And they're able to help me cut through the clutter and get through the barriers that are placed in front of me by either lawyers, insurance companies or these large manufacturers.
[GRAPHIC: Consult with an experienced attorney]
JEFFERY HERNANDEZ: The first thing a person should do if he or she has been injured as the result of the use of a product is to give me a call. The call is free. There's no obligation to hire me. I'll be happy to sit down and talk with you about the injury, about its effect on you, about why you believe the product was responsible for causing your injury. If the case has validity, I have full confidence in my ability to recover the maximum amount of compensation for my clients.
