What is the Consumer Bill of Rights?
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy gave a speech in front of Congress that outlined the four basic rights every consumer should have. Later, these rights became the Consumer Bill of Rights, the legal protections afforded to American consumers and consumers of American products. The Consumer Bill of Rights aims to create a level playing field between producers and consumers so producers cannot manipulate or exploit consumers for financial gain.
Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to ensure their products are safe, effective, and perform as advertised. Additionally, manufacturers must take action once they become aware of problems with their products, such as dangerous defects or design flaws that make those products unsuitable for public consumption.
Consumer Protections
The Consumer Bill of Rights explains the four areas of protection afforded to consumers in the United States:
- The right to safety. Some products are inherently dangerous, such as kitchen knives, but they pose no danger to consumers if they follow the provided safety instructions and use them as intended. Product manufacturers must ensure their products are not hazardous to consumers’ lives or health, and every product must include clear safety warnings advising consumers of known hazards associated with normal use of the product. Additionally, manufacturers must provide clear instructions for proper use.
- The right of choice. Companies are not allowed to corner a market or buy up all their competitors to become the sole choice of a given product. For example, if there are five major manufacturers of Product X, one of those companies may want to buy out the other four so they are the only option for consumers. This is called a monopoly, and the Consumer Bill of Rights prevents monopolies, benefitting the consumer. Monopolies would also cause an economy to stagnate, so preventing monopolies safeguards healthy competition.
- The right to be informed. Consumers have the right to know what is in the products they buy. Companies that manufacture food products, medicines, or other consumables must clearly list all ingredients used in the product. This ensures customers can be fully informed about what they’re buying.
- The right to be heard. Product manufacturers must support their products and their customers. Every product manufacturer has a customer service department to field comments, inquiries, and complaints about the company’s products. There are also several government agencies that oversee American consumption such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). American consumers can contact these agencies with issues concerning harmful or questionable products.
Know Your Rights
When manufacturers create and sell products that are harmful or dangerous in any way, it’s vital for affected consumers to know the legal protections afforded them by the Consumer Bill of Rights. If you suffer an injury or any type of damages through normal use of a product, it’s important to connect with a reliable San Diego products liability attorney who can handle product liability lawsuits.
If you file a product liability lawsuit against a product manufacturer, the concept of strict liability may come into play, depending on the product in question. If the product falls under strict liability, the plaintiff only has to prove the product is defective in some way to collect compensation for damages. Without strict liability, plaintiffs would also have to prove the manufacturer was negligent in some way.
Anyone with concerns about consumers’ rights can find a wealth of information and resources through the government agencies that oversee American commerce and consumption. If you or a loved one suffered an injury or loss due to a product, it’s vital to speak with a product liability attorney as soon as possible.