Product defects or faulty equipment can turn a safe product into a dangerous product. Corporations and product manufacturers may not alert the public of the defects, or they want to make money off substandard products. Here, you may recover financial compensation and hold the negligent party accountable. When you call our personal injury law firm, you'll get a Chicago product liability lawyer committed to helping you with your defective equipment case. Our Chicago product liability attorneys have extensive experience handling product liability lawsuits. We know the legal options that can help you recover the maximum compensation you deserve.
Getting compensation to cover your medical expenses isn’t always enough. You may be permanently injured, maybe you lost your job while you were recovering from your physical injuries, or maybe the faulty product damaged your property. After sustaining an injury caused by a defective product, you may be looking at years of medical care and physical therapy.
You can seek compensation for all the pain and suffering associated with unsafe products. Our skilled Chicago products liability attorneys will look at all of your needs and seek the monetary compensation that you deserve. Our legal team will fight fiercely to get you a fair compensation package that'll meet all of your needs.
If you or someone you love has sustained personal injuries because of a faulty product, you need an experienced defective product lawyer by your side. We have helped thousands of defective product victims in DuPage County, Cook County, Kane County, Kendall County, Lake County, and throughout Illinois and we can help you recover fair compensation.
To schedule a free initial consultation, with one of our skilled product liability lawyers, contact our Chicago personal injury lawyers today at (312) 300-2515.
Product Liability Laws in Illinois
You may name several responsible parties in a product liability lawsuit. Besides the manufacturer of the dangerous equipment, you may also name the retailer or wholesaler. This is because all corporations in the supply chain owe a duty of care to consumers to provide safe products.
Under Illinois product liability laws, to file a product liability case, you must prove that:
- Equipment had an “unreasonably dangerous” defect or fault that caused your bodily injury, and the defect happened in the product’s design, during the manufacturing, or during shipping or handling of the equipment.
- The product defect injured you even if you were using the equipment in the way the manufacturing company said it was intended to be used.
- The equipment that caused your injuries had not changed “significantly” from its original sales condition.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Faulty Product in a Chicago Product Liability Case?
Under the strict liability laws in Illinois, the manufacturer, seller, or any other business entity involved in the distribution chain, may be held responsible for a faulty product when it injures someone. Under strict liability laws, the injured person must prove: their injury resulted from a condition or defect of the product sold or manufactured by the defendant; that the product defect or condition was an unfairly dangerous one; and that the defect or condition existed at the time the equipment left the manufacturer’s control.
Under either theory, the injured party must prove that the equipment or product that caused his or her physical injury was defective. There are four types of product defects: manufacturing defects, design defects, defects in marketing, and warning defects:
- Design defects: This defect concerns the design of the equipment itself, so the equipment would have been faulty even if it was manufactured perfectly.
- Manufacturing defects. A defect in the manufacturing stage means that a safety hazard arose because of a mistake that occurred during the manufacturing process.
- Warning defects: This means that the manufacturer didn't issue adequate warnings concerning the product’s potential safety hazards.
- Defects in marketing: This defect relates to how the product was advertised or marketed. For example, improperly marketing a toy with small parts that are likely to be a choking hazard to children under the age of three.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Chicago Defective Product Case?
Typical economic damages in a product liability claim include:
- Medical expenses already due;
- Expected medical costs, an experienced product liability attorney can help you make a good estimate of the lifetime medical care cost for many bodily injuries;
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation expenses may include costs of modifying your home and car to accommodate a disability;
- Lost wages; and
- Diminished future earning ability, especially if you can't work in the same job after the injury.
Typical noneconomic damages in a product liability claim can include:
- Compensation for pain and suffering, including emotional distress, mental anguish, and ongoing pain;
- Diminished quality of life because of activities you can no longer enjoy because of your bodily injury;
- Permanent disability and disfigurement.
If your loved one passed away because of a defective product, you can file lost a wrongful death lawsuit to seek compensation that includes:
- Loved one’s funeral expenses;
- Your loved one’s expected lifetime earnings;
- Loss of companionship; and
- Grief
The amount of monetary compensation for your case depends on the unique circumstances of the accident, and the type of bodily injury. It’s essential to note that brain injuries are difficult to document and argue successfully, but an experienced product liability lawyer can help you value your case. If your product liability case takes a long time to settle, you may also be eligible to recover interest in the compensation.
Sometimes, monetary compensation might be diminished by payments you have already recovered. If, for instance, you were injured by defective equipment at work, and received workers’ compensation for your personal injuries, the workers’ compensation insurance company may seek to be repaid. This is also the case if you received Medicaid benefits for medical expenses.
Contact Our Experienced Chicago Product Liability Lawyer Today for Legal Advice!
A product liability claim may allege other grounds for liability, including breach of the warranty for fitness or negligence. Often, a product liability lawsuit may assert many grounds for liability. At Ktenas Injury Attorneys our team will closely study the facts of your case and explore all legal options available to you.
Should you or a loved one need legal help because of personal injuries caused by a defective product, contact our Chicago personal injury law firm today at (312) 300-2515 for a free and no-obligation initial consultation.
