The holiday season is a time of giving—but sometimes, those gifts cause more harm than joy. From defective electronics and children’s toys to kitchen appliances and tools, product-related injuries surge during Thanksgiving and Black Friday due to rushed manufacturing, poor quality control, and aggressive discount sales.
In Florida, if a defective or dangerous product injures you or someone you love, you may have the right to compensation under product liability law.
Common Defective Products During the Holidays
Black Friday and Cyber Monday often bring deals on high-demand items, but not all of them are safe. The most common products that lead to injuries include:
- Toys and children’s products — choking hazards, sharp edges, or toxic materials
- Kitchen appliances — defective air fryers, blenders, or pressure cookers causing burns or explosions
- Electronics — overheating devices or faulty batteries leading to fires
- Power tools — malfunctioning drills or saws without proper guards
- Decorations and lighting — electric shocks or fires from faulty wiring
These hazards can cause severe burns, electrical shocks, fractures, or even wrongful death—especially when products are marketed without adequate warnings.
Understanding Product Liability in Florida
Florida law allows injured consumers to hold manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable for defective products.
There are three main types of product liability claims:
- Design Defect: The product was inherently dangerous due to its design (e.g., an unstable ladder).
- Manufacturing Defect: Something went wrong during production, making it unsafe (e.g., missing bolts, poor wiring).
- Failure to Warn: The company failed to include proper warnings or safety instructions.
You do not need to prove negligence in all cases—only that the product was defective and caused injury when used as intended.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
In many product injury cases, multiple parties may share responsibility:
- The manufacturer – for poor design or defective components
- The distributor – for improper storage or packaging
- The retailer – for selling recalled or unsafe products
- Third-party sellers (online) – such as marketplace vendors who fail to verify product safety
Under Florida’s strict liability laws, victims can pursue damages from anyone in the chain of distribution.
What to Do If You’re Injured by a Defective Product
- Stop using the product immediately.
- Keep the product, packaging, and receipt. These serve as critical evidence.
- Take photos of the product, injuries, and scene.
- Get medical care and save all records.
- Check for recalls on the product through the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
- Speak with a personal injury attorney before contacting the company or insurer.
Never throw away the product—it can be the most important piece of evidence in your case.
Damages You May Recover
Victims of defective product injuries may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses and future treatment
- Lost income or inability to work
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages (for reckless or knowing misconduct)
The Role of Recalls and Corporate Responsibility
Even if a recall is issued after your injury, it doesn’t remove liability. In fact, delayed or inadequate recalls can strengthen your claim by showing the company ignored consumer safety warnings.
Retailers and online platforms have a duty to remove recalled or unsafe products promptly—but many fail to do so during high-volume sales periods like Black Friday.
How Darfoor Law Firm Can Help
At Darfoor Law Firm, we advocate for individuals throughout Florida who have suffered harm due to unsafe or defective products. Our legal team will:
✔ Investigate product design and manufacturing records
✔ Work with engineering and safety experts
✔ Identify all responsible parties in the supply chain
✔ Negotiate or litigate for maximum compensation
If your holiday gift caused injury, don’t let corporations minimize your pain. Contact Darfoor Law today for a free consultation. We’ll help you hold negligent companies accountable and ensure your family’s safety is protected year-round.
