Home appliances are designed to make everyday life easier. However, when a toaster catches fire, a space heater shocks you, or an electric kettle explodes, it can cause serious injuries and damage. If something like this has happened to you, you may be wondering about your legal rights and options. Understanding who is liable for injuries caused by defective appliances is crucial to protecting your ability to recover compensation. Keep reading for more information and reach out to a knowledgeable Panama City product liability attorney to schedule your free consultation today.

What Constitutes a Product Defect?

A home appliance, or any product for that matter, can be considered defective if it fails to function safely or does not work as it was intended. Defects can fall into three categories: design defects, manufacturing defects, and marketing defects.

Design defects are flaws in a product’s design that make the item dangerous, even when manufactured correctly. These issues affect the entire product line, as the defect is inherent to the appliance’s design.

Manufacturing defects are errors created during the production or assembly of the product. When these mistakes are made, the item deviates from its intended design and can become unsafe to use as the appliance was intended. Certain units may be manufactured correctly, while others may be produced with a flaw.

Marketing defects are also called “failure to warn” defects. These are flaws in the product’s presentation. When the item does not come with adequate warnings or instructions, it could lead to consumer injury, even if the item was designed perfectly.

Any of these issues could cause the appliance to malfunction or the user to sustain damages.

Who is Liable for Injuries Caused by Defective Appliances in FL?

In Florida, multiple parties may be responsible for a defective appliance under product liability law. Any individual or entity involved in the product’s chain of distribution could have caused or contributed to the issue and injuries you sustained.

Some common parties who can be held liable include:

  • The manufacturer: The company that designed and/or assembled the defective appliance could be responsible for all types of defects
  • The retailer: The store that sold the product can also be held liable, even if they didn’t cause the defect, because they distributed the product
  • The distributor or wholesaler: Any company responsible for moving the product from the manufacturer to the retailer can also be partially responsible
  • Your landlord: If you rent and your landlord provided you with a faulty appliance or ignored reports of issues, they could share fault
  • Installation or maintenance companies: Workers who improperly installed or wired the item or failed to identify or fix issues during maintenance may be liable

As you can see, there are various parties who can be held responsible for your injuries and damages. Florida law uses a strict liability standard for product defect claims against manufacturers and commercial sellers. This means you generally only need to prove that the product was defective and that the defect caused your injury, regardless of whether the liable party was negligent or careless.

Reach out to an experienced attorney for more information and legal representation today.