Florida Lawmakers Restrict Lawsuits Against Auto Manufacturers
May 5, 2011
On Wednesday the Florida House approved a bill that shields automakers from some lawsuits that seek product liability damages.
According to the new bill, the jury must now consider the primary cause of the crash—including the condition of the driver and the circumstances of the accident—when weighing whether or not an injured plaintiff should be awarded monies.
For instance, if a driver who was injured after an airbag failed to go off during a crash is seeking damages from the auto manufacturer the jury will now be informed about the full circumstances of the crash. In such prior cases, a 2001 Florida Supreme Court decision protected juries from knowing the primary cause so as not to confuse their decision by focusing on something other than the product liability allegation.
The new bill states that juries would need to “consider the fault of all persons who contributed to an accident when apportioning damages in a products liability action.”
The bill previously cleared the Senate and passed in the House yesterday with a vote of 80-35; it will now continue on to Republican Governor Rick Scott, who is expected to sign it.
Do you think juries should be privy to all information regarding a Florida auto accident?
If you or someone you know has been injured in a Florida auto accident, the Florida auto accident lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene Injury Lawyers may be able to help.