South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
Getting a tattoo or piercing is a deeply personal decision. When you go to get a tattoo or piercing, there will always be some pain and discomfort associated with the procedure, but you expect the service to be provided with a certain level of care and caution. If you have suffered an infection or another type of injury due to a tattoo or piercing, you may be able to obtain damages through a personal injury claim. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our seasoned Miami injury attorneys can explore the facts of your case and provide you with an honest assessment of your claim.
Tattoo artists in the state of Florida are regulated by the Department of Health, and they are subject to semi-annual reviews and training. Tattoo parlors are required to maintain written procedures for minor medical issues as well as for emergencies. The laws governing Florida tattoo artists are codified in state statutes 458.309 and 877.04.
Owners of tattoo and piercing parlors have a responsibility to use sterile equipment. Using unsterile equipment poses a number of serious risks to a customer’s health and safety. A number of injuries can arise from getting a tattoo or piercing, including:
- Blood disease;
- Infections;
- Allergic reactions;
- Discoloration;
- Scarring and keloids formations; or
- Numbness or paralysis.
If you have been injured in one of the ways listed above, you may be able to file a negligence claim against the at-fault party. Negligence refers to a person or entity’s obligation to use reasonable care in order not to injure others. Here, reasonable care would mean a tattoo or piercing parlor adhering to the same safety standards and protocols as another law-abiding tattoo and piercing parlor. In order to establish negligence, the plaintiff must prove that the tattoo and piercing parlor owed the customer a duty to use reasonable care, the parlor breached this duty owed to the customer, and the parlor’s breach was a direct cause of the customer’s harm. For example, Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver that can be passed on via re-used or dirty needles, so it is imperative for needles to be sterilized properly between customer tattoos and piercings.
Victims of negligence can typically seek compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, scarring, disfigurement, and more. Of course, the exact amount of damages will vary depending on the specific facts of your case. For instance, if you have been left with a misspelled tattoo or a tattoo of extremely poor quality, you will likely be able to seek compensation to cover the costs of a corrective procedure or the removal of the tattoo.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of tattoo or piercing parlor negligence in Florida, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. It is imperative to act quickly and reach out to a skilled Miami injury attorney who can determine the viability of your claim. We proudly represent clients across South Florida. To discuss your case in more detail, do not hesitate to call us at 1-877-499-HURT (4878) or reach out to us online today.
More Blog Posts:
Drunk Driving Accidents Around the Holidays in Florida, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, January 4, 2016
Allergic Reaction Injuries in Florida, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, January 4, 2016
Christmas Tree Accidents in Florida, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, January 4, 2016