Chicago Product Liability Attorney

Why Choose Midwest Injury Lawyers for Your Chicago Product Liability Case?

Your choice of attorney and their experience with product liability cases will have a significant effect on your case’s outcome and the compensation you could recover. Therefore, it’s crucial to choose the right firm to represent you.

Here’s why Midwest Injury Lawyers is the right product liability firm for you:

• We treat you like a real person – Far too many law firms treat clients like numbers, only caring about how fast they can settle the claim and move on to the next case. Not at Midwest Injury Lawyers. We know your case matters to you, which is why it matters to us. We prioritize clear, consistent communication with every client. You’ll always know what’s happening with your case and someone to talk to if you have questions or need support.
• We understand these cases – Our Chicago product liability lawyers have more than 20 years of legal experience, so we know what it takes to win these complex cases. With our deep knowledge of Illinois tort law and wealth of legal knowledge, we can build an airtight case to help you recover fair compensation.
• Our results speak for themselves – Always look at a law firm’s past results before choosing a lawyer. Our firm has recovered more than $50 million for our clients to date, showcasing our ability and skill with these intricate legal disputes.

Compensation From Chicago Product Liability Claims

The value of your product liability claim depends on several factors, including the extent of your injuries, your financial losses, and the pain and suffering you have experienced.

Because these factors vary widely across cases, we can’t tell you how much you could recover until we investigate your claim.

However, we can tell that, in general, you could demand money to pay for your:

• Medical Bills: This includes all the costs related to your treatment – things like hospital stays, doctor visits, any physical therapy you might need, and medications. It also covers any future medical care linked to your injury.
• Lost Income: If your injury kept you from working, this part covers the money you couldn’t earn as a result. It also accounts for any long-term effects the injury had on your ability to earn money in the future, like if you can’t go back to your old job.
• Pain and Suffering: The physical pain and emotional agony you’ve experienced may not have an obvious price tag, but they are every bit as real as your medical bills or lost earnings. You deserve compensation for this turmoil as well.
• Diminished Quality of Life: If your injury means you can’t do things you used to – like playing sports, enjoying hobbies, or just going about your day – this accounts for that loss. It recognizes that your life has changed, and not for the better.

In certain limited cases, you could also receive punitive damages. These do not compensate you for any loss you suffered. Instead, they punish the product’s manufacturer for especially egregious behavior and deter others from putting similarly dangerous products onto the market. In Illinois, you cannot ask for punitive damages in your claim. Instead, juries award them at their discretion based on the facts of the case.

Types of Product Liability Claims in Chicago

There are three primary types of product defects, which differ in the underlying cause of the danger.

Design Defects

These claims arise when the design of a product has flaws, making it inherently dangerous or defective. Even when manufactured correctly, the product poses a risk due to its design.

For example, the automotive parts company Takata manufactured airbags that had a defective inflator switch that could cause the bag to explode, shooting metal debris into the vehicle cabin.

The inherently flawed design meant that all 40 million airbags manufactured to its specification were dangerous.

Manufacturing Defects

These occur when errors in the manufacturing process result in a defective product made to an otherwise safe design. As a hypothetical, suppose an electronics company manufactured a product run of a cell phone of a proven safe design.

However, the company used a different transistor in this particular run that had inferior power-handling abilities than the transistor used in previous production runs, causing the cell phone to overheat and catch fire. Other versions of the same model are safe, but this particular batch is not due to the manufacturing error.

Failure to Warn or Provide Proper Instructions

This type of claim deals with products that lack adequate warnings or instructions, leading to misuse or unexpected risks. It covers scenarios where potential hazards aren’t clearly communicated or instructions are insufficient for safe usage.

Common Products Seen in Product Liability Cases

A wide range of products can contain defects that make them unsafe to consumers. Some items, due to their nature or widespread use, come up more frequently than others.

Below are just a few examples of unsafe products that could injure innocent consumers:

• Pharmaceuticals: Medications sometimes cause adverse effects that are not listed on their labels or have insufficient instructions for safe use. These cases often focus on side effects that drug makers did not properly communicate to consumers or healthcare professionals.
• Medical Devices: Products like surgical implants, pacemakers, or prosthetic limbs can malfunction, potentially leading to further health complications or necessitating additional surgeries. Issues may arise from design flaws or manufacturing errors.
• Automotive Parts: Defects in car components, such as faulty airbags, brake systems, or tires, can lead to catastrophic accidents. These cases often involve complex investigations to determine the specific defect and its cause.
• Children’s Products: Defective toys and childcare products like cribs and car seats can cause severe, sometimes even fatal, injuries. Common issues include choking hazards, toxic materials, or structural failures.
• Electronics: Consumer electronics like smartphones and laptops may have defects that cause them to overheat or malfunction. These issues can lead to fire hazards or data loss, posing significant risks to users.
• Household Appliances: Items like stoves, heaters, or washing machines might malfunction due to design or manufacturing flaws, leading to fire hazards, water damage, or other accidents in the home.
• Food Products: Contamination or mislabeling of food can result in serious health issues, including allergic reactions or foodborne illnesses. These claims often focus on improper handling, contamination during processing, or a lack of clear labeling.
• Building Materials: Products used in construction, like insulation, electrical wiring, or plumbing fixtures, can have defects leading to structural issues or health hazards, such as exposure to toxic substances.
• Sporting Goods: Equipment like helmets, bicycles, or gym machines can malfunction or fail, leading to injuries. Defects in these products often relate to inadequate safety features or poor manufacturing quality.

Common Injuries From Dangerous Products

Depending on the specific product and flaw in question, a defect could lead to serious, even life-threatening injuries when in use. The product’s manufacturer could owe you compensation if it caused you with any of the following:

Burns

Often the result of overheating electronics, faulty appliances, or flammable materials, burns can range from minor to severe, sometimes requiring extensive medical treatment like skin grafts.

Cuts and Lacerations

Defective tools, broken glass in products, or sharp, unexpected edges can lead to severe cuts, requiring stitches or even surgery.

Broken Bones

Falling or malfunctioning products, like ladders or gym equipment, can result in fractures and broken bones, often necessitating casts, surgery, or physical therapy.

Choking

Small parts from toys or household items can pose choking hazards, especially to children, leading to emergency medical situations.

Poisoning

Exposure to toxic substances in products like cleaning supplies or contaminated food can cause poisoning, requiring immediate medical attention.

Electrocution

Faulty wiring in electronics or appliances can cause electric shocks or electrocution, leading to burns, heart issues, or neurological damage.

Head and Brain Injuries

Defective helmets or accidents resulting from product malfunctions can result in concussions or more severe traumatic brain injuries.

Allergic Reactions

Mislabeling or contamination in food and skincare products can trigger allergic reactions, ranging from mild rashes to life-threatening anaphylaxis.

How We Help You Battle the Insurance Companies

At Midwest Injury Lawyers, we know how hard it can be to go up against a big, powerful corporation armed with a highly paid legal team. Our dedicated team offers a range of services to level the playing field.

We start with a thorough investigation of your case. Our attorneys dive deep into the details of the product that caused your injury, gathering evidence to build a strong foundation for your claim.

We scrutinize the product’s design, manufacturing process, and any failure to provide adequate warnings or instructions. This in-depth analysis helps us pinpoint where things went wrong and who is responsible.

We also handle all the communication with the at-fault company and its insurers on your behalf. Dealing with these big businesses can be overwhelming, especially if they use tactics to minimize your claim’s value.

Our experienced lawyers know how to navigate these conversations and protect your rights. We advocate fiercely for your interests, pushing back against lowball offers and seeing the insurance companies take your claim seriously.

We can also bring in expert witnesses when needed to strengthen your case. These experts can provide valuable insights into the technical aspects of the product’s defect, its effects on your health, and the long-term implications of your injuries.

Once we’ve established the company’s liability, our team will work diligently to negotiate a settlement that covers all your losses and helps you move forward with your life. However, if the company won’t make you a fair offer, we are fully prepared to take your case to court.

Our skilled attorneys have extensive trial experience and can fight for your rights before a judge or jury.

What to Do After an Injury From a Defective Product?

Once you’ve received medical attention for your injuries, you can get started protecting your right to compensation.

Here’s what to do:

• Keep the defective product without trying to repair or alter it.
• Document your injuries and the product with photos.
• Keep a detailed record of all expenses and losses linked to the injury.
• Maintain a journal of your recovery process, noting pain levels and any setbacks.
• Be cautious in your communications with insurance companies, and avoid making official statements or accepting early offers.
• Consult a product liability attorney to understand your legal options.
• Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and attend all follow-up appointments.
• Do not discuss your case on social media, as the insurance company or business behind the defective product can use your posts against you.

Contact Our Chicago Product Liability Lawyers Today

The Chicago product liability attorneys at Midwest Injury Lawyers stand ready to help you find justice and recover fair compensation for what you’ve suffered. Contact us today at (312) 786-5881 to get started with your free consultation.

Joliet Office

210 N Hammes Ave
Unit 205 C
Joliet, IL 60435
(815) 714-6131