Learn the Difference Between Public Liability and Product Liability

This article will aim to explain the difference between Public Liability and Product Liability. A business can be protected against legal suits by opting for either a product liability or a public liability insurance policy. While the former focuses on covering legal claims for the harm caused to a plaintiff by a defective product or an inherent quality it possess, the latter policy emphasizes more on protecting the concerned from any injuries resulting from inattention in the maintenance of the business premises, service, etc. It is to be understood that the lawsuits for product liability tend to arise when a defect or dangerous quality seems to exist in a product. All the plaintiff has to do for claiming the charges in this case is prove that he suffered an injury while using the product exactly as it was meant to be used. For instance, if a person suffers injury while riding a bike that was purchased without knowing that it had faulty brakes, he would be legally entitled to have his damages covered. On the other hand, the insurance policy that covers liabilities that pertain more towards the public aspect is comparatively stricter. In this case, the seller or manufacturer acquires the insurance policy to help cover the damages caused to the plaintiff even though his actions might not have been directly contributable to the damage caused to the latter. Suppose if a person slips and injures himself on business premises, this would be seen as one of the few public liabilities. The accidental release of pollutants to the environment is another example of this legal liability. Moreover, being a part of the law of tort, both of these liabilities focus on civil wrongs and offer different type of protections. It is also possible to possess both these policies especially if you own a product selling business, so as to ensure maximum coverage against any damages which a customer may claim legally. As a conclusion, it can be said that a public liability is more complex but is best suited to cover an economic loss or damage to property, and injuries that are either physical or psychological; while product liability entitles the holder to take legal action against the supplier of a particular product provided that he proves that the product has made him suffer some sort of loss or injury, or did not turn out to be as safe as the buyer expected it to be.