This interview is with Jason Turchin Esq., Attorney, Law Offices of Jason Turchin.
For readers on Connectively, how do you introduce your work as an attorney handling personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, and insurance disputes—what types of cases and clients do you focus on most today?
I am a national plaintiffs’ attorney and the founder of the Law Offices of Jason Turchin, representing individuals and families nationwide in personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, and life insurance disputes. My practice focuses on helping people after catastrophic injuries, fatal accidents, dangerous or defective products, denied life insurance claims, and other situations in which individuals face large corporations or insurance companies.
Much of my work involves complex product liability litigation, including automotive defects, recalled consumer products, defective household appliances, pressure cooker explosions, burn injuries, battery fires, and other dangerous products. I also represent clients injured in motor vehicle accidents, cruise ship incidents, negligent security cases, and wrongful death claims, as well as beneficiaries whose life insurance claims have been delayed, denied, rescinded, or placed into interpleader.
I filed one of the earliest lawsuits involving defective Takata airbags, which helped lead to the nationwide recall of more than 80 million vehicles, and I have researched and written about emerging product liability issues involving autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence for over a decade. My experience handling both individual claims and complex litigation allows me to provide practical legal insight on evolving safety issues, consumer protection, insurance disputes, and litigation trends.
I work with journalists frequently to discuss product recalls, consumer safety, insurance disputes, wrongful death litigation, automotive defects, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence liability, cruise ship injuries, and emerging issues affecting consumers nationwide.
Additional information:
- Personal injury and wrongful death: https://www.victimaid.com/
- Product liability and dangerous products: https://www.jasonturchin.com/product-liability-lawyer/
- Life insurance disputes: https://lifeclaims.com/
- Attorney profile: https://www.jasonturchin.com/lawyers/jason-turchin-esq/
- Media information: https://www.jasonturchin.com/
How did you build a practice centered on car accidents, wrongful death, product liability, and insurance disputes?
My practice developed by focusing on cases in which individuals are often at a significant disadvantage against large corporations or insurance companies. Early in my career, I handled a wide range of injury and insurance matters. Over time, I concentrated on catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, dangerous and defective products, and life insurance disputes because these cases often involve complex legal and factual issues that can have a profound impact on families.
As my practice grew, I became increasingly involved in product liability litigation, including filing one of the earliest lawsuits involving defective Takata airbags, before the nationwide recall expanded to more than 80 million vehicles. I have also represented clients in cases involving defective consumer products, automotive defects, recalled products, cruise ship injuries, and emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence. My research on self-driving vehicle liability was published in the Westlaw Journal – Automotive, and I continue to follow developments involving AI, automation, and product safety.
Today, my practice remains focused on representing individuals and families, not corporations or insurance companies, in cases involving serious injuries, wrongful death, product defects, and denied or delayed life insurance claims. Many of these matters involve nationwide litigation, evolving safety standards, or novel legal issues, making them particularly relevant to journalists covering consumer safety, technology, transportation, insurance, and litigation trends.
Learn more:
- Personal injury and wrongful death: https://www.victimaid.com/
- Product liability litigation: https://www.jasonturchin.com/product-liability-lawyer/
- Life insurance disputes: https://lifeclaims.com/
- Attorney profile: https://www.jasonturchin.com/
When a new auto accident or wrongful death matter comes in, what are the first three facts you gather and why do they most reliably shape case strategy?
The first thing I want to understand is how the incident happened. Whether it’s a car accident in Florida, trucking collision, pedestrian crash, or wrongful death case, the sequence of events often determines liability, what evidence must be preserved, and whether additional parties may be responsible. Early evidence such as photographs, surveillance video, electronic vehicle data, witness statements, and 911 recordings can become critical, so identifying and preserving that evidence is one of my first priorities.
Second, I evaluate the injuries and damages. The nature and severity of the injuries, the medical treatment received, future medical needs, lost income, and the overall impact on the person’s life help determine both the value of the claim and the resources needed to pursue it. In a wrongful death case, I also focus on the relationship between the survivors and the decedent, the financial losses, and the circumstances surrounding the death.
Third, I consider who may be legally responsible and whether insurance or other sources of recovery exist. Liability is not always limited to another driver. Depending on the facts, a case may involve an employer, a trucking company, a vehicle manufacturer, a property owner, a government entity, or multiple insurance policies. Identifying every potentially responsible party and every available source of coverage at the outset often has a significant impact on case strategy.
Those three areas — how the event occurred, the extent of the damages, and who may ultimately be responsible — often provide the framework for nearly every personal injury and wrongful death case I evaluate. Once those questions are answered, it’s much easier to determine what additional investigation is needed and how to build the strongest possible case.
Drawing on your deposition and trial practice, what questioning sequence has consistently helped you lock down liability in catastrophic auto or product cases?
There is not a single script that works in every case, but I generally follow a sequence that builds from objective facts to accountability. I may start by establishing the witness’s role, responsibilities, and personal knowledge so there is a clear foundation for the testimony. From there, I may move through documents, photographs, electronic data, company records, or other evidence to confirm what happened.
Whether I’m handling a catastrophic auto accident, wrongful death claim, or product liability lawsuit, the objective is often the same: develop a clear, credible factual record supported by evidence rather than relying on broad conclusions. Jurors, judges, and insurance companies are generally persuaded by a consistent timeline and well-documented facts, and that foundation often shapes the course of settlement negotiations as much as trial itself.
At mediation, what specific signals tell you it’s in the client’s best interest to resolve now versus proceed toward trial in an insurance dispute?
Every case is different, so there is not a single factor that determines whether a client should settle or proceed toward trial.
At mediation, I may look at:
- the strength of the evidence
- how credible the witnesses are likely to be
- the legal issues involved
- the amount of available insurance coverage
- the risks and costs of continued litigation
- whether the insurer is negotiating in good faith
We generally prepare every case as if we are going to trial.
In the first 72 hours after an injury, what is the most common mistake you see people make with insurers, and what do you coach them to do instead?
One of the most common mistakes I see is that people speak with an insurance adjuster before they fully understand their injuries or the facts of the incident. In the first few days after an accident, before someone hires an accident attorney in Florida, people are often still receiving medical treatment; adrenaline may mask symptoms, and important evidence is still being gathered. A recorded statement or casual comment made too early can later be taken out of context or used to minimize a claim.
Instead, I encourage people to prioritize their medical care, preserve evidence such as photographs, witness information, and receipts, and be thoughtful before providing detailed statements or signing authorizations. If they are contacted by an insurance company, they should consider speaking with an injury attorney before discussing liability, the extent of their injuries, or accepting an early settlement offer. Taking a measured approach in those first 72 hours can help protect both their health and their legal rights.
I would add that another big mistake is consulting AI for legal advice. AI can often get the law wrong and cannot provide the benefit of decades of experience, which is often needed to maximize a settlement.
Given your exposure to venture capital and emerging companies, what early design, testing, and documentation habits do you recommend startups adopt to reduce product liability risk without stifling innovation?
The most effective product liability strategy starts long before a product reaches the market. I encourage startups to build safety into the development process through the following habits:
- Document design decisions
- Maintain clear testing protocols
- Investigate customer complaints promptly
- Validate significant design changes
- Keep organized records of risk assessments and quality control
Good documentation not only improves the product, but it also demonstrates that safety was taken seriously throughout development.
From my experience, innovation and product safety don’t have to compete. Many successful companies treat legal, engineering, and quality assurance as collaborative partners rather than separate functions. As technologies like artificial intelligence, connected devices, and autonomous systems become more common, startups should also establish processes for software updates, cybersecurity, post-market monitoring, and responding quickly to safety issues. A thoughtful approach to design, testing, and documentation can reduce product liability risk while building consumer trust and supporting long-term growth.
In Florida wrongful death cases, what underrated category of damages or piece of evidence tends to move adjusters or juries, and how do you develop it effectively?
One of the most overlooked aspects of a Florida wrongful death case is developing a complete picture of who the person was and the impact their loss has had on the surviving family members.
While financial losses are important, evidence showing the loss of companionship, guidance, instruction, and emotional support can be just as compelling when presented thoughtfully and supported by credible testimony.
In many cases, these damages can be demonstrated through:
- family members
- friends
- coworkers
- photographs
- videos
- other evidence that illustrates the decedent’s role in the lives of those left behind
With your background in theatrical and music production, what risk controls do you recommend venues and touring productions implement to prevent catastrophic injuries and avoid later coverage or product liability disputes?
Although my primary practice focuses on personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, and insurance disputes, my involvement in the arts as a Broadway producer has given me an appreciation for the many moving parts required to operate a safe production.
Like any business, venues and productions can reduce risk by identifying hazards before an incident occurs and by documenting inspections, maintenance, repairs, and safety procedures. While accidents cannot always be prevented, fostering a culture in which safety is an ongoing priority, not just a compliance exercise, can help protect artists, audiences, and staff while reducing the likelihood of serious injuries and subsequent liability disputes.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Thank you for the opportunity to participate. I enjoy working with journalists because accurate legal reporting helps consumers better understand their rights and the issues affecting public safety.
I’m happy to provide insight on topics including:
- Personal injury and wrongful death litigation
- Car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents
- Product liability, product recalls, and consumer safety
- Automotive defects, autonomous vehicles, and artificial intelligence liability
- Insurance coverage disputes and life insurance claim denials
- Cruise ship injury claims and maritime passenger safety
- Premises liability and negligent security
- Emerging litigation trends involving new technologies and consumer products
When possible, I strive to explain legal issues in plain English and provide practical context rather than legal jargon. My goal is to help readers understand not only what the law says, but how it applies to real-world situations and what questions they should be asking when these issues arise. Journalists are always welcome to reach out for timely commentary or background on developing legal and consumer safety issues.