Bair Hugger Faw Blanket

Product Liability Attorneys Serving Injured Patients Throughout Michigan

Forced-air warming (FAW) blankets, such as the Bair Hugger model made by 3M, are designed for use during surgery. Their purpose is to keep patients warm before surgery, but a number of people have complained that the blankets have caused them to suffer infections and other complications after the surgical process. Some experts have opined that the reason for this is that the FAW blankets can circulate airborne contaminants, which then make their way into a patient’s body during surgery. The Grand Rapids and Traverse City Bair Hugger lawyers at the Neumann Law Group are reviewing possible litigation concerning forced-air warming blankets on behalf of people throughout Michigan and elsewhere. The attorneys at our firm also handle other medical device product injury claims, including those arising from hip replacements, knee implants, and IVC filters.

When a patient is injured by a medical device that is defective or unreasonably dangerous, he or she has a legal right to pursue monetary compensation from the manufacturer, wholesaler, or seller of the defective product. Under Michigan product liability law, the plaintiff has the burden of proof, so it is important that a would-be litigant contact an experienced injury attorney as soon as possible. Building a case against the maker or seller of a defective medical product or device is a complicated process that takes not only skill and perseverance but also a great deal of time and money. Not every law firm is up to the task, so it is important to select a Bair Hugger attorney in the Grand Rapids or Traverse City areas with the resources necessary for such an endeavor.

Cases Involving FAW Blankets

Traditionally, there have been three major theories of liability in product injury cases: defective design, manufacturing defects, and failures to warn (also called “marketing defects”). Negligence must be proven unless a particular case falls within the parameters of the strict liability doctrine. To prove negligence, the plaintiff must show that the defendant had a duty of care, that the defendant breached the duty, that the plaintiff suffered damages, and that the defendant’s breach of duty was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s damages. In cases involving medical devices, a defendant may admit that a particular product was defective, especially if there has been a product recall, but allege that a patient’s medical complications are not related to the device. This is why establishing causation linking a design or manufacturing defect to the plaintiff’s injuries is critical.

In cases in which strict liability is applicable, a Traverse City or Grand Rapids Bair Hugger attorney must be able to prove that the product or device was sold in an unreasonably dangerous condition and that the plaintiff was injured because of the product defect. Of course, the defendant in a medical device product liability lawsuit may assert one or more defenses, such as assumption of the risk or misuse of the product. For example, a defendant in a Bair Hugger FAW blanket lawsuit may argue that the patient’s physician or other medical providers did not use the device correctly or that they committed an act of medical malpractice that was the cause of the injuries that the plaintiff suffered.

Retain a Bair Hugger Lawyer in Traverse City or Grand Rapids

Seeking compensation for injuries or for a family member’s wrongful death caused by a Bair Hugger FAW blanket begins with arranging an appointment with an experienced product liability attorney. At the Neumann Law Group, we are dedicated to advocating for the legal rights of people who have been hurt or have lost a loved one because of a dangerous medical device or other consumer product. For an appointment to discuss your case, call us at (800) 525-6386 or contact us online. Our attorneys represent victims in Traverse City, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Flint, Lansing, Muskegon, Midland, Holland, Kalamazoo, Detroit, Wyoming, Saginaw, Warren, Petoskey, and areas throughout the Upper Peninsula. We also handle non-medical product liability cases, such as those arising from heater-cooler systems or E-cigarettes.