Lafourche Parish Products Liability Lawyer
If you are injured because of a defective or dangerous product, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Using a product correctly should not result in injuries to you or someone else. A Lafourche Parish products liability lawyer can help you understand if you have a case and work to pursue the compensation to which you may be entitled. Call an accomplished personal injury attorney today to schedule a consultation.
What are the Product Liability Laws in Louisiana?
The Louisiana Products Liability Act, or LPLA, governs product liability cases in Lafourche Parish. The LPLA states that if a product placed into commerce by a manufacturer or seller causes injury to a person, then those parties may subsequently be held liable for any ensuing damages the product causes, pursuant to the rules of the LPLA.
According to the LPLA, a manufacturer can be a person or business that designs, produces, or constructs a product. The term can also apply to someone who puts their name on a product or imports a product from outside the United States and sells it in Lafourche Parish.
Elements of an LPLA Case
To bring a case under Louisiana’s Products Liability Law, certain conditions must be met. First and foremost, the product must have an unusually defective or dangerous condition that causes an injury when it is used by a consumer.
Furthermore, the product must be unusually dangerous because of its design or the way it was manufactured, because it was not labeled with an adequate warning, in spite of an express warranty by the manufacturer that it was safe, or some combination of these elements.
Finally, the unusually dangerous aspect of the product must be present when the product leaves the manufacturer or occur when the product is used as intended.
Financial Payment for Injuries Caused by a Defective Product
When all elements of a products liability claim are met, the injured party can pursue financial payment for several types of injury or loss. A skilled Lafourche Parish products liability lawyer can work to recover payments for the medical bills and expenses incurred by an injured person.
If an injured person is unable to work because of their injury, then they may also be entitled to payment for lost wages or loss of business income. In addition, injured individuals of defective products could seek restitution for their general pain and suffering, including compensation for the interruption of a person’s lifestyle and inconvenience caused by the injury.
What are is the Deadline to File a Product Liability Claim?
The LPLA sets strict rules about when a claim must be made. If the deadline is missed, the injured person may lose their right to file suit for that particular injury forever.
The time limit for a products liability claim in Louisiana is one year. This means a claim must be made or lawsuit filed within one year of the date of injury, or the injured person cannot recover any financial compensation for their injury.
Experienced lawyers know the rules governing such claims and can help potential plaintiffs meet all deadlines.
Contacting a Lafourche Parish Products Liability Attorney
Product manufacturers and sellers owe an implicit duty of care to consumers to ensure they do not come to avoidable harm when using their products as intended. In the event they fail to uphold that duty, they can be pursued for restorative damages.
Do not delay if you suffer injury from a defective product, contact a Lafourche Parish products liability lawyer as soon as possible after the incident to see what your options may be. Call today to get started on your case.