St. Petersburg Product Liability Lawyer
As consumers, it is necessary for all of us to place a significant amount of trust in the manufacturers of the many and varied products we use each and every day. In the majority of cases, this faith is well-placed, with the items performing safely and as expected. However, each year there are an unacceptably large number of incidents in which a product made available on the open market causes serious injury or death due to defects in its design, production, or instructions for use.
When this happens, it may be necessary for victims to assert their right to receive monetary compensation for the losses sustained, though this process is not always simple or straightforward. If you have been harmed by an unreasonably dangerous item, a St. Petersburg product liability lawyer is prepared to assist in your quest for accountability. Call today to discuss your claim with an experienced injury attorney.
Complexities of Product Liability Law
According to statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, losses stemming from hazards related to consumer products total more than $1 trillion each year.
When a dangerous product results in serious injuries or worse, victims and their families may not know where to turn. They may feel as though they stand little chance of prevailing against the manufacturing giants that placed unsafe items into the stream of commerce.
However, it is important for such individuals to realize that there may be multiple parties to blame for their injuries beyond the manufacturer, with distributors, service centers, installers, and retailers potentially sharing in liability.
Because all product liability claims are extraordinarily fact-intensive and require detailed investigation by engineers, medical experts, and others, it is critical that victims align themselves with a product liability lawyer in St. Petersburg with the resources and knowledge necessary to prevail.
Categories of Product Liability Claims
A product liability complaint can emerge from virtually any type of consumer item on the market today. Indeed, the practice of product liability law is quite vast, encompassing the representation of those injured by things as diverse as:
- Amusement park rides and playground equipment
- Home appliances, electronic devices, and furniture items
- Baby products and children’s toys
- Sporting goods, including pools and spas
- Pharmaceutical drugs and devices
- Automobiles and related components, including all-terrain vehicles
Proving Fault in Product Liability Cases
Broadly speaking, liability in cases of this type will be attributable to defective design, defective manufacturing, faulty installation, or failure on the part of the producer to warn the public of inherent or non-obvious risks.
Product liability attorneys in St. Petersburg generally proceed based on a legal theory of negligence, strict liability, breach of warranty, or combination of the above, depending on facts of a given case. Common to all such claims, however, is the need for comprehensive investigation, research, analysis, injury documentation, and loss valuation.
Compensation for Victims of Dangerous Products
The financial recovery available to victims of unreasonably dangerous products can be substantial, and may include payment for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost employment wages, reduced future earning ability, and other classifications of loss.
However, Florida law does impose time restrictions on an injured party’s right to assert a claim, as indicated by the four-year negligence statute of limitations provided by Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a),(e),(k),(p) and the statute of repose articulated by Fla. Stat. § 95.031(2)(b).
Enlisting the aid of a seasoned product liability attorney can help ensure that claims are filed in a timely manner and the right to pursue compensation is preserved.
Fighting on Behalf of Florida’s Injured
The betrayal felt by those injured by defective consumer products can never be overstated. Fortunately, there is no need for victims to go it alone against manufacturing powerhouses with teams of defense attorneys standing at the ready. To discover how a St. Petersburg product liability lawyer can zealously champion the cause of justice in your case, contact us today.