We are often asked, “Why am I classified as the manufacturer when I don’t manufacture anything?” The simple answer is that you may be the only person in the U.S. that is legally liable for damages caused by the product.
If you import any products or ingredients from a foreign country, then you will be considered, and be held liable as, the manufacturer, whether or not you are physically manufacturing your products.
Thousands of product liability claims are made against businesses every year for defects in design, products, and marketing. Lawsuits are being filed for dangerous side effects, improper assembly, failure-to-warn, and breach of warranty; all of which can be, and are, brought against companies who don’t directly manufacture a product. Costs for such litigation can be devastating to a business.
If you are an importer, distributor, or wholesaler importing products, then you are at the end of the litigious food chain. You will be held liable for damages due to the products you put on the market. Do you have the right insurance protect you?
Insurance policies have specific endorsements, conditions, and exclusions that could affect your insurance coverage based upon the classification or description of your business and products distributed or manufactured by you. The time to see if your policy was written correctly is not when you are involved in a product liability lawsuit—the time is now.
Veracity insurance Solutions, LLC provides Product Liability Insurance in all 50 states; start-up operations and new ventures welcome. Veracity created and administers multiple General & Product Liability insurance programs designed to give our customers the most comprehensive coverage specific to their needs.