Product Liability Attorney

Each year, millions of Americans suffer injuries due to dangerous or defective products. Many injuries resulting from unsafe products are catastrophic, with victims being left unable to work or requiring months or years of medical rehabilitation. Multiple parties could be liable for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages resulting from defective or dangerous products.

Product Liability Attorney in Chicago

If you have sustained severe injuries or a loved one has died due to a dangerous or defective product, it is in your best interest to seek immediate legal representation. This is important for both the strength of your case and for protecting more innocent people from suffering similar injuries, or even death.

Call (312) 201-8600 or visit our contact page to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with our personal injury lawyers. We represent clients on a contingency fee basis – meaning you pay nothing unless you win.

Types of Product Liability Claims

Strict Liability

Strict liability applies to products that, if defective, could be expected to cause physical harm to the consumer. The plaintiff does not need to prove a defendant’s negligence, but they must prove of the following:

  • The product causing injury was in an unreasonably dangerous and defective condition when it left the manufacturer’s control; 
  • The product was defectively designed or manufactured; or
  • The manufacturer, distributor, or retailer failed to warn of the dangerous condition of the product

Negligence

In a negligence action, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant failed to exercise ordinary care in the design, production, and distribution of a product that subsequently caused injury to the plaintiff.

 A negligence action includes three basic elements:

  • The defendant had a duty of care to the plaintiff
  • The defendant breached the duty of care
  • The breach directly caused injury to the plaintiff

Breach of Warranty

In a breach of warranty case, the plaintiff must prove that an express or implied warranty applied to the product and that it failed to meet the terms of the warranty.

Types of Product Liability

Susan E. Loggans & Associates specializes in many types of Product Liability cases, such as:

Defectively Manufactured Products

Defectively manufactured products that are flawed due to errors in the manufacturing process. Examples include quality control issues at the factory or the use of substandard materials.

Defectively Designed Products

When a product’s design is inherently dangerous, it falls under the Defectively Designed category of product liability claims. An example of a defectively designed product is a car that has a prophecy to flip when turning a corner. 

Medical Devices

Medical device defects can stem from both manufacturing and design defects, as well as errors in marketing or recommending a device. While manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers are often the primary defendants in these cases, liability can also fall onto laboratories, sales representatives, and health care providers.

Pharmaceutical Drugs

Product liability for pharmaceutical drugs places the primary burden on the manufacturer, which is required to complete testing and disclose potential side effects. Drug-related product liability claims fall under three categories: defectively manufactured drugs, drugs with dangerous side effects, and improperly marketed drugs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common products involved in product liability claims?

Common products include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Airbags
  • Boats
  • Children’s toys
  • Construction equipment
  • Cribs
  • Electrical equipment
  • Firearms
  • Food or drink products
  • Heavy machinery
  • Household appliances
  • Machinery
  • Medical devices
  • Motor vehicle parts
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Recreational goods
  • Tools
  • Toxic chemicals

What is the statute of limitations for product liability cases?

In the State of Illinois, product liability cases must be filed within two years from the date the product was purchased or acquired. In cases involving property damage from the use of a defective product, the statute of limitations is five years.

How can I ensure a strong case?

It’s important to keep as much information as possible about the product, including original packaging, receipts, and of course the faulty product itself.

Illinois Product Liability Resources

Illinois Product Recalls 

View Illinois product recalls, provided by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General

United States Consumer Product Commission

View national product recalls 

Illinois Product Liability Laws

View the full text of civil jury instructions for product liability cases, as drafted by the Supreme Court Committee on Jury Instructions in Civil Cases

Susan Loggans Law

When a consumer suffers injuries due to a defective product, several parties could be held liable. If you have been injured due to negligence, it is likely that many others have also suffered or will suffer similar injuries. To ensure the most aggressive compensation and protect others from a similar fate, it is important to seek legal counsel immediately. 

Susan E. Loggans & Associates has a strong reputation in Chicago and the greater Cook County area for protecting our community from product defects.

Contact our office immediately to discuss your options and lawful rights to compensation. Call (312) 201-8600 or visit our contact page to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our experts in product liability claims, who will provide a complete evaluation of your case.