Product designers, manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and advertisers all play a role in delivering a product into the hands of a consumer, and all of these parties bear responsibility in ensuring that the product is safe for use. Unfortunately, even a small oversight at any point can make a product dangerous to users, resulting in serious injuries, illnesses, or even death in some cases. Defective and malfunctioning products are responsible for thousands of injuries and fatalities in the United States every year, and at Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller & Overbeck P.A. our West Palm Beach product liability lawyers are committed to taking action against the individuals and companies responsible.
If you or someone you love has been injured because of a defective consumer good, taking prompt legal action is vital. Not only can a successful product liability lawsuit help you recover compensation for the financial costs of your injury, but it can also help to alert others who may use the same product to the potential dangers, hopefully preventing others from suffering similarly. At Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller & Overbeck P.A., our West Palm Beach injury attorneys know that recovery is the most important thing to you and your family at this time, which is why we are prepared to take your legal concerns on for you, allowing you to focus your energy and attention on much more important matters. Call us today at (561) 689-8180 to speak with a skilled member of our team so we can start working on your case.
Why Hire A Product Liability Lawyer?
After being injured by a defective or malfunctioning product, your first priority should be recovering from your injuries. However, missing work and the cost of medical treatment can make it very difficult and stressful to focus on what matters most – your health.
Fortunately, Florida’s legal system allows victims of product negligence to seek compensation for their injuries. By pursuing financial compensation, you can get help to alleviate the financial burden of your injuries.
In addition, making a legal claim against those who caused your injuries holds negligent parties accountable for the harm they caused and it can protect other people from being injured. However, filing a lawsuit can be very difficult without competent legal assistance.
Product liability cases involve complex legal issues. You need to hire an experienced product liability attorney as soon as possible for your case to be successful. In Florida, you have four years from the date of injury or two years from a fatality to file a lawsuit.
An attorney will be invaluable in keeping you informed of your options for seeking justice, as well as ensuring that your legal rights are protected. To be awarded compensation, you and your attorney must establish who was responsible for the product being dangerous, that the product in question caused you harm, and depending on the specifics of your case, that someone involved in making, distributing, or selling the product acted negligently.
After learning about the facts of your case, an experienced attorney can begin building your case by determining what arguments and evidence will help you receive compensation. Lawyers will use their specialized knowledge and vast resources to craft legal arguments that can maximize your award.
What is the Chain of Distribution in Product Liability Claims?
Product liability lawsuits often include more than one defendant. That’s because a chain of distribution exists for each product, including the:
- Manufacturer – The manufacturer is responsible for designing and creating the product. If errors were made in the way the product was designed or the way it was made, then the manufacturer can be held liable for negligence.
- Distributor/Wholesaler – Distributors and wholesalers connect the manufacturer and retailers. If the actions of distributors or wholesalers made the product defective, they can be held liable for negligence.
- Retailer – Retailers refer to the businesses that consumers buy the product from. If they knowingly sold a defective product or their actions made the product defective, they can be held liable for negligence.
Why Choose Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller & Overbeck P.A. for Your Product Liability Case?
At Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller & Overbeck P.A., our attorneys have decades of experience fighting for injured individuals. We take great pride in serving our community by holding negligent and reckless individuals and entities accountable for the harm they cause.
Throughout your case, we will strive to keep you continually informed with transparent communication while we make the legal process smooth for you and your loved ones. We have worked with injured Floridians for many years, so we understand the difficulties our clients face.
Our firm always offers strong legal support as we go through this stressful time. We serve you with compassion, while we aggressively pursue the damages you need and deserve.
At Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller & Overbeck P.A. we have the proven experience, knowledge, and skills to win your case. Our track record of multi-million dollar results testifies to our firm’s commitment to excellence. To view some of our notable settlements and verdict awards, see our “Results” page.
Our numerous awards also highlight our success. For example, we have been included among Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and more.
We will put our firm’s resources to work for you to ensure you don’t continue to suffer because of another person’s carelessness. Our priority will always be what’s in your best interest.
At Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller & Overbeck P.A. we understand the financial strain that your accident has on you and your loved ones. To avoid adding to your financial stress, our firm operates on a contingency basis. This means that we only charge you for our services if we win your case.
Our Product Liability Practice Areas
Unfortunately, even the smallest defect in consumer goods can result in serious dangers for users and depending on the type of product in question, defects and oversights can quickly become life-threatening. At Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller & Overbeck P.A.., our West Palm Beach legal team has been helping the victims of dangerous products for more than 35 years, and we are ready to put our experience to work helping victims of:
- Dangerous Pharmaceutical Products
- Dangerous Food Products
- Dangerous Children’s Products and Toys
- Automotive Defects
- Defective Household Products
Defects can arise as the result of a variety of different problems that can occur at nearly any point in the production cycle of a consumer good, and as such, we are ready to help those who have been injured because of:
- Design Defects-A design defect occurs when the product was manufactured correctly but its initial design was unreasonably dangerous. Generally, to prove that a product has a design defect, it must be shown that the product is unsafe when an average consumer uses it in a predictable way.
- Marketing Defects-Marketing defects are applied to manufacturers or distributors who fail to inform consumers of the dangers posed by their products. A common example of a marketing defect is not adding warnings to potentially dangerous products. To receive compensation for a marketing defect, your attorney must demonstrate that the product was made unsafe because consumers were not warned about the risks associated with a product.
- Manufacturing Defects-Manufacturing defects are what people most often think of when it comes to defective products. These defects occur when something goes wrong in the manufacturing process and the product does not fit the intended design. If these products make it through the quality control process and into the hands of consumers who are injured by the defect, the consumer may be entitled to damages.
In product liability cases, there are a few things can prevent you from receiving compensation or reduce the amount of compensation you receive. One of these is if a product was misused or used in a way the manufacturer or seller could not have reasonably expected Similarly if a product became dangerous only after it was significantly changed by the consumer, it is unlikely that the injured persons can file a lawsuit.
In Florida, you can still file a lawsuit if you contributed to your own injuries. However, the amount of compensation you are entitled to will be reduced by the amount of fault you were responsible for as determined by the court.
If you have terrible misfortune of losing a loved one because of a defective or malfunctioning product, you may be able to file a product liability wrongful death lawsuit. Victims’ families can be entitled to various kinds of compensation for the death of a loved one, including compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and more.
Our firm has secured several multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for clients who have lost loved ones. While all the compensation in the world can’t pay for the loss of someone you love, you deserve accountability and freedom from the financial burden of the loss.
Regardless of the type of injury you suffered, or the source of the defect, it is important to take legal action for any harm caused by a dangerous product, and at Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller & Overbeck P.A., we are ready to help.
Contact a Product Liability Attorney in West Palm Beach
It is essential for everyone involved in the creation and sale of a consumer good to do everything they can to prevent any dangers or hazards from reaching customers. When they fail in this regard, they need to be held accountable. For the help you need taking legal action following an accident or injury caused by a dangerous product, call the West Palm Beach product liability lawyer of Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller & Overbeck P.A. today at (561) 689-8180.
