Manufacturing, design, and warning
A manufacturing defect means the item left the line wrong. A design defect means every unit carries the same danger. A failure to warn means a known risk was not communicated adequately. The proof differs for each.
Keep the product
This is the single most important step. Do not return it, repair it, or discard it, and keep the packaging, the manual, and the receipt if you still have them.
Everyone in the chain
Responsibility can extend to the manufacturer, the distributor, and the retailer, and sometimes to a component maker. Identifying the chain is part of the work.
Recalls help but do not decide it
A recall is strong evidence and does not automatically establish that the product caused your specific injury. Complaint histories and prior incidents matter too.
