When you buy a product, such as a car, an electric appliance, or a children’s toy, you don’t expect it to land you in the emergency room, and rightly so. Unfortunately, some corporations prioritize profits over their customers’ health and safety, with potentially catastrophic consequences.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to a defective product, personal injury law allows you to pursue compensation. You could recover medical expenses, lost income from missed work, awards for pain and suffering, and more.
Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers is here for you when an unsafe product upends your life. Our Belleville, IL product liability lawyers can hold a corporation accountable and fight for maximum potential compensation. Get started now and contact us to discover your options in a free, no-obligation consultation.
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Examples of Defective Products
Items we use every day can have hidden dangers that can put us at risk of injuries and worse. Here are some examples of defective products that could lead to a product liability claim:
- Faulty Auto Parts: Defective brakes, malfunctioning airbags, or other faulty vehicle components can lead to serious accidents and injuries.
- Dangerous Pharmaceuticals: Prescription and over-the-counter medications with serious undisclosed side effects or manufacturing faults can cause severe health problems and even death.
- Defective Children’s Products: Toys, car seats, or other children’s products that don’t meet safety standards can pose a significant risk to your child’s health.
- Hazardous Consumer Goods: Products we use daily, like phones, electric appliances, or household products, can be a threat to our health if poorly designed or manufactured.
When you’re injured by a defective product, the financial, physical, and emotional consequences can be immense. However, if a manufacturer or another party is responsible, you should not have to shoulder the burden alone. Our product liability lawyers in Belleville, IL could help you get justice.
Do You Have a Product Liability Case?
You could have a product liability case if you were hurt due to an improperly designed or manufactured product. A manufacturer may also be responsible for your damages if they fail to provide adequate instructions or warnings. For example, according to federal regulations, a hazardous device, such as a power tool, must be accompanied by sufficient instructions and safety warnings.
However, even everyday items we consider safe can be dangerous if improperly labeled or faulty. Here’s a run-down of defective product causes that could give rise to a legal claim:
Manufacturing Defects
Manufacturing faults occur on the factory floor when a product is assembled incorrectly or made with a defective part. A manufacturing error may affect a single product or a small number of items, and not necessarily an entire product line. Errors in manufacturing can result in:
- Contaminated or wrongly labeled medications
- Frozen brakes or faulty steering
- Failing electrical equipment in vehicles
Errors in Design
A design mistake is an inherent flaw that typically affects an entire product line, not just a single item. Examples of design mistakes include furniture toppling over too easily or top-heavy cars prone to roll-over accidents.
Failure to Warn
Manufacturers must warn consumers adequately of any hazards associated with their product or medication. For instance, failure to warn of significant side effects or drug interactions can cause considerable harm and even death to patients. Examples of defective marketing or failure to warn include:
- Incorrect or incomplete instructions
- False advertising
- Inaccurate warning labels
- Failure to inform consumers of known dangers
Product liability claims can be challenging to understand and litigate. The best way to determine whether you qualify for a personal injury claim is to consult a defective products lawyer.
How a Belleville, IL Product Liability Lawyer Can Help You Get Justice
One of the biggest hurdles of a product liability case is proving the company made a mistake. Figuring out what happened and who is responsible takes skills, meticulous investigation, and the help of industry experts. That’s why you need an experienced defective product lawyer on your side who knows how to dig deep into regulations, determine all liable parties in your case, and pursue fair compensation on your behalf.
Product liability claims can be highly complex. Anyone involved in the manufacture and distribution chain could be liable for your damages. You could have multiple defendants, including:
- A manufacturer
- The product’s wholesaler
- A distributor or retailer
Moreover, product liability cases often involve powerful global corporations. Our attorneys can level the playing field when you’re taking on a large company and negotiate strongly for fair compensation. We can also hire expert witnesses to strengthen your case. Working with an experienced product liability lawyer in Belleville, IL can give you the best chance of getting what you truly deserve.
Victims of Dangerous Products Can Seek Compensation
If you have suffered injuries due to a dangerous product, seeking compensation is not only your right but can also potentially protect other consumers. While compensation will depend on your specific case and factors such as your injuries and financial losses, the following damages may be available:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are intended to reimburse you for the monetary losses due to your defective product injury and can include:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Future healthcare costs
- Loss of income
- Future loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages can be harder to quantify, as they should compensate you for any physical or emotional effects from the injury. They are typically calculated by multiplying your economic damages by a factor specific to your case and can include awards for:
- Pain and anguish
- Emotional trauma
- Disability
- Loss of life enjoyment
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are rarely awarded in personal injury cases. However, they may be court-ordered in product liability cases where a company or other party acted grossly negligently in causing your injuries. It’s important to note that punitive damages in Illinois are capped at three times the amount of economic damages.
FAQs
How can a Belleville, IL product liability lawyer prove my claim?
Proving your claim entails establishing that the product was defective and that this is directly responsible for your injury and losses. An experienced defective product lawyer can do this by:
- Documenting your injuries and damages: Your lawyer can assess the impacts of your injury on your life and finances. For this, they can use records of medical treatments, bank statements showing lost income, and bills of your injury-related expenses.
- Investigating the company: Attorneys can ask corporations to produce paperwork documenting testing procedures, design protocols, and quality control to discover what went wrong. This evidence is invaluable in proving liability.
- Obtaining expert testimony: A product liability lawyer has connections to expert witnesses who can examine a product’s flaws. Thanks to an expert’s specialized knowledge of engineering, manufacturing, medicine, and more, their opinions can strengthen your case considerably.
Skilled product liability lawyers know how to present your case in negotiations or before a jury and judge in court. They can hold a corporation and other responsible defendants accountable for your losses and aim for a fair settlement.
What should I do when injured by a dangerous product?
Your best first step is safeguarding both your health and legal rights by promptly seeking medical help. Your doctor can assess your condition and treat your injuries. They will also complete a medical report listing your injuries, which is crucial for pursuing compensation.
As a second step, consider consulting with a Belleville, IL product liability lawyer who can clarify your rights and determine your legal options. You could be entitled to compensation.
When should I file a product liability lawsuit in Belleville?
According to 735 Illinois Compiled Statutes section 5/13-202, you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit and pursue compensation in the state. Filing too late could prohibit you from recovering compensation. However, there can be other considerations in determining when to file a lawsuit, such as:
Your Recovery Period
It’s generally not advisable to file a lawsuit before you know the full extent of your injuries and have either recovered or reached maximum medical improvement. Waiting until then allows your attorney to better understand your injuries’ long-term physical, emotional, and financial impact. They can then accurately calculate your damages, including those expected in the future.
Preserving Evidence
Crucial evidence may disappear if you wait too long to file your personal injury lawsuit. Corporations could destroy crucial documents, and witness statements may be a lot harder to come by once a few years have passed. Timely action can help secure essential evidence required to prove your case.
Since there can be various considerations regarding the timing of your case, promptly consult with a personal injury attorney. They can provide guidance on the statute of limitations, assess your case’s merits, and protect your rights throughout the legal process.
Our Belleville, IL Product Liability Lawyers Want You to Win
Receiving the payout you need to put your life back together can be challenging when up against a large and powerful business. At Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we don’t shy away from holding corporations accountable and can fight tirelessly for full and fair compensation.
We have recovered numerous six-, seven-, and even eight-figure results for our clients and could help you too. You don’t pay us unless and until we recover compensation for you. Contact us today to find out more in a free case review.