Fort Collins Pressure Cooker Attorney

Colorado’s Strict-Liability Framework

Colorado product-liability law holds manufacturers, distributors, and in some cases, retailers responsible for defective products. Under C.R.S. §§ 13-21-401 to 406, you do not need to prove negligence, only that the product was defective and caused your injuries during normal use. Victims in Fort Collins generally have two years from the date of injury or discovery to file suit.

McLaughlin Law Firm’s Approach for Fort Collins Clients

1. Preserving evidence: We ensure the defective cooker, lid, packaging, and manuals are secured for testing. These items are vital to establishing the product’s failure.
2. Expert engineering analysis: Our team partners with product engineers to identify mechanical or electronic defects and compare them against safety standards like UL 136.
3. Connecting your case to recalls: If your pressure cooker matches a known CPSC recall, it strengthens your claim by proving the manufacturer had prior notice of the defect.
4. Identifying liable parties: In addition to the manufacturer, distributors and retailers can also be held accountable if they rebranded or sold the defective product.
5. Calculating total damages: We work with medical and financial experts to determine your full economic and non-economic losses, including medical care, lost wages, and emotional distress.
6. Negotiating from strength: Our litigation experience signals to manufacturers that we’re ready to take your case to trial in the Larimer County District Court if necessary.

What Damages Can Victims Recover?

Victims in Fort Collins pressure cooker lawsuits may be eligible for several forms of compensation:

• Medical Expenses: Burn injuries often demand years of treatment, from emergency care and surgeries to rehabilitation. Compensation can cover hospital bills, medications, physical therapy, and future procedures at Poudre Valley Hospital or specialized burn units elsewhere in Colorado.
• Lost Income and Future Earnings: Time away from work can devastate a family’s finances. Victims can recover wages lost during recovery and compensation for diminished future earning potential if they cannot return to their former profession.
• Non-Economic Damages: These damages compensate for emotional suffering, disfigurement, and reduced enjoyment of life, especially relevant when injuries prevent victims from participating in beloved Fort Collins activities like hiking Horsetooth Reservoir or attending CSU sporting events.
• Exemplary (Punitive) Damages: If the manufacturer acted recklessly, failing to address known hazards or issuing recalls too late, courts may impose punitive damages to deter similar misconduct in the future.
• Loss of Consortium: When injuries alter family dynamics or cause long-term emotional strain, spouses may be entitled to damages recognizing the loss of companionship and support.

Nationwide verdicts have reached tens of millions of dollars, reflecting the immense harm these defects can cause. Compensation cannot erase the trauma, but it can provide security and accountability for Fort Collins families impacted by unsafe consumer products.