When a consumer purchases a product, whether for work or fun, they assume it will perform as promised. However, when an item is defective, it can cause more harm than good. That is where a Glastonbury, CT, product liability lawyer can help.
State laws provide legal means for consumers to recover compensation to offset the harm caused by defective items. An experienced personal injury attorney in Glastonbury will assist you with filing a claim and advocate on your behalf to reach a fair outcome.
Types of Defects in Defective Products Cases
Generally, three types of defects may be applicable in product liability cases. If an item’s core design is so flawed that it cannot work safely, even if manufactured perfectly, it suffers from a design defect.
Likewise, a manufacturing defect occurs when a properly designed item is incorrectly made or assembled.
Finally, marketing defects involve a lack of adequate warnings, improper instructions for use, and poor packaging. If an item’s packaging or accompanying instructions fail to warn about certain dangers, the manufacturer or distributor may be liable for any harm someone suffers.
Some of the most common items in a defective product case include the following:
- Medical devices
- Tools
- Medication
- Household appliances
- Baby products
- Cars
- Children’s toys
Injured in an Accident?
Get the Compensation You Deserve. Our Experienced Lawyers Can Help.
How Long do You Have to File a Product Liability Claim?
The Connecticut statute of limitations for product liability lawsuits requires you to file a claim within three years of the date you suffer injuries. However, even though you have time, you should collect evidence of the defect and file your claim as soon as possible.
In some cases, however, you’ll either have more or less time to file your claim, depending on the details of your case. To ensure you file your claim in time, one of our Glastonbury, CT, product liability attorneys can give you a case consultation and tell you exactly how long you have to file.
You could miss the deadline if you are unaware of how long you have to file. And once you miss the filing deadline, you will no longer be eligible to recover compensation for your losses.
Proving Negligence in a Product Liability Case
Proving negligence in a product liability case is an important step when you’re seeking compensation for injuries or damages caused by a defective and dangerous product. To establish negligence, we must demonstrate the following elements:
- Duty of care: We must establish the defendant owed you a duty of care. In these cases, manufacturers, distributors, and sellers are legally obligated to ensure that their items are reasonably safe for their intended use.
- Breach of duty: We must show the defendant breached their duty of care by designing, manufacturing, or marketing a defective item. This could involve demonstrating a flaw in the item’s design, improper manufacturing processes, or a failure to provide adequate warnings or instructions.
- Causation: We must establish a causal link between the defendant’s breach of duty and the injuries or damages suffered. We must demonstrate that the item’s defect directly caused the harm they experienced.
- Damages: We must provide evidence of the injuries or damages you incurred from using the defective item. These damages include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Proving negligence in a product liability case requires gathering compelling evidence, expert testimony, and a thorough understanding of the relevant laws and regulations. Hiring an experienced product liability attorney in Glastonbury, CT, can significantly strengthen your case and improve your chances of obtaining a fair settlement or successful trial outcome.
Suffered a Personal Injury?
Let Us Fight for Your Rights and Maximize Your Compensation.
Different Theories of Recovery in a Product Liability Lawsuit
Connecticut law provides three ways a Glastonbury attorney could establish liability for a defective or dangerous item.
First, the Connecticut Products Liability Act, stated in Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572m, establishes the theory of strict product liability. This law allows consumers to hold manufacturers, distributors, and sellers liable for defects without having to prove legal negligence by any defendant.
It may also be possible to hold manufacturers, sellers, and others liable under the theory of negligence or breach of warranty. Negligence involves a failure to live up to common practices in providing safe items, and breach of warranty involves a violation of an express or implied promise that came with the item when it was purchased.
Injured Due to Negligence?
Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers Ready to Assist You.
Potential Damages a Product Liability Attorney Can Recover for You
After you’ve suffered injuries due to a defective item, you have a legal right to recover financial and non-financial losses.
By recovering damages, you can ease the financial burden your injuries may cause. Our Glastonbury product liability attorneys can help you recover damages such as:
- Medical bills
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of quality of life
You could be eligible to recover some or all of these damages. Our team of attorneys can help determine what damages you can recover.
How Much Is the Average Product Liability Settlement in Connecticut?
There is no average settlement amount for product liability because every case differs. However, three main factors can determine your settlement amount:
Severity of Injuries
How severe your injuries are significantly affects how much money you could receive for your settlement. You’ll likely recover a higher settlement if you have catastrophic injuries and require significant medical treatment.
Your settlement is supposed to cover all your medical costs and any other losses you’ve suffered. If it doesn’t, you’ll be left with out-of-pocket costs you’ll have to pay. But our team will make sure we fight to receive the maximum compensation.
Number of Liable Parties
The more parties at fault, the more compensation you can recover. For example, if a truck malfunctions and hit you, you could recover damages from the manufacturer, trucking company, and truck driver.
A Glastonbury, CT, truck accident lawyer can help you file separate lawsuits against each party and get the necessary compensation.
The Personal Injury Lawyer You Choose
After a defective item injures you, you need a personal injury attorney with strong negotiating power and experience. Negotiation affects your settlement immensely. Insurance companies always try to find a way to give you the least amount possible.
If you don’t negotiate, you’ll end up with a settlement that doesn’t cover your damages. But when you hire one of our Glastonbury, CT, product liability attorneys, you can be confident that you’ll get a settlement covering all your losses.
Speak with a Glastonbury Product Liability Attorney Today
A Glastonbury, CT, product liability lawyer can direct or assist with taking legal action and building the strongest possible case. We’re Claggett, Sykes & Garza, and we’re here to right wrongs.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation to learn whether you may be entitled to recover compensation for injuries or economic harm caused by a defective item.
