Manufacturers and others tasked with getting products to market are required to provide goods that function as intended and are safe for consumers. The law holds these individuals and entities liable if a product is found to be faulty. Even products that are rigorously tested and monitored, such as pharmaceutical drugs, can be defective.
If you were injured while using a product correctly, an experienced Chicago product liability lawyer can work with you on a potential legal claim. If another party is liable for your injury, you can seek compensation for medical care, financial losses, and emotional trauma. The personal injury attorneys at Kaveny + Kroll have extensive experience winning these cases and are ready to advocate for you.
Who Is Responsible for a Defective Product?
At any stage of a product’s development, that product can assume a flaw that makes it dangerous. Our skilled attorneys will consider the following as potential defendants:
- Product designer
- Those responsible for product testing
- Manufacturers
- Distributors
- Retailers
Manufacturers generally inform distributors, who then inform retailers, about how to use or operate a product and any potential dangers to consumers. If a party in this chain does not include instructions and warnings, it is expected that recipients proactively seek out the information and pass it on. If this step is ignored and a consumer is harmed by the product, the distributors, retailers, and manufacturers could be liable.
To understand if your injuries support a valid product liability claim, consult our Chicago legal team today. Our mission is to put the “personal” in personal injury and work with you to resolve your losses.
When a Product’s Design Is Defective
If a design flaw is built into a product’s manufacturing process, it will eventually be detected because every product made using this process could contain the flaw. For example, when the Ford Motor Company produced the Ford Pinto in the early 1970s, it was manufactured with a design flaw in the placement of the gas tank that caused the car to ignite when hit from behind.
Our Chicago attorneys can consider all aspects of what caused a product to break down and harm you to help determine liability.
Manufacturing Defects
Although manufacturers can be held accountable for negligence, such as cutting corners to boost profits, for example, incorporating substandard nuts and bolts that break under pressure, most claims against manufacturers fall under strict liability.
Strict liability means the manufacturer does not have to act below the standard of a reasonable person to cause harm. They can act with utmost care, but if a product is released and consumers are harmed, the manufacturer is still liable for damages. To prevail under strict liability, you cannot alter the product or use it in an unintended way. You must also purchase it from an authorized retailer, and your claim will be barred if you acquire it secondhand.
Our seasoned Chicago lawyers have the product liability knowledge to ask the right questions to ensure your claim is successful.
Failure To Warn
If consumers purchase a product and do not immediately know it can be dangerous, it must contain a warning label. Federal labeling rules specify the size and color of the lettering on the label. Products that are potentially dangerous and are universally known to be so do not require warning labels. A set of steak knives or a box of matches can injure you, but they are examples of products that people know can harm them.
If a defective product injures you, our team of legal professionals in Chicago will identify the defendants in your product liability case and work tirelessly to get you compensated.
Contact Product Liability Attorneys Who Fight for Chicago Families
It only takes one defective product to entangle you in the legal system, and trying to resolve your losses alone can cause significant angst and stress. A Chicago product liability lawyer can help. The dedicated team at Kaveny + Kroll will leverage over 65 years of combined experience to get you the best possible outcome for your case.
We can offer you the personal attention of a small firm and the legal experience of a big firm. We understand that you and your entire family are affected when a faulty product causes you physical or emotional harm and prevents you from working. Call our team today to discuss your case.
