Skip to content 
We are here to help. If you or someone you love has been injured by a dangerous or defective product, contact personal injury lawyer Elgin Illinois today for free legal consultation. Even if you are unsure whether or not you have a claim, the attorneys at Carlson Bier can help. We will investigate and evaluate your case and determine the best legal course of action.
Companies have a responsibility to make sure products are not harmful to those who use them or purchase them. When they don’t protect the consumer you may have a personal injury claim. Contact us today for a consultation at 312-622-2900.
What is product liability law?
Product liability law is a type of personal injury law. It’s the area of law that deals with injuries caused by defective products. There are three types of product liability claims: design defect, manufacturing defect, and marketing defect.
A design defect occurs when there is something wrong with the way a product was designed that makes it unreasonably dangerous to use as intended or expected by its manufacturer. For example: if you bought a blender only to find out later that it was made with lead paint, that would be considered a design defect. It is unreasonably dangerous to use lead in food preparation.
Manufacturing defects occur when there’s an error during the production process resulting in something being wrong with how well-made your particular item turns out. For example: if every single unit produced had cracks running along both sides near where screws attach two pieces together, this could be a manufacturer defect.
With a marketing defect, the manufacturer fails to disclose an unreasonably dangerous condition. Or, they didn’t instruct clearly on proper use of the product.
When an injury results from any of the defects, you will want a personal injury lawyer Elgin Illinois to help you. The legal team at Carlson Bier have helped numerous clients in Illinois and collected millions of dollars in damages on their behalf.
Different Defects
- Defective design: The product was designed in a way that made it dangerous to use. For example, if the manufacturer of a toy knew that small children could choke on its parts, but did not change the choking hazard, it may be considered defective design.
- Defective manufacturing: The product was made with an error during production. This means that something went wrong during manufacturing. For example, if you have to assemble your new crib, but the parts line up incorrectly causing instability, that could be considered defective manufacturing.
- Defective warning: A warning label wasn’t included with your purchase even though one was needed to warn consumers about potential dangers associated with using this particular type of product.
- Misrepresentation: You may have been told by someone selling you something that it wasn’t dangerous, there haven’t been any recalls on the product, or they failed to disclose something else about it. When they knew otherwise and this caused harm, you may have a claim due to misrepresentation.
How do I know if my injury was caused by a defective product?
If you have been injured, it’s important to know whether or not you have a claim under product liability law. Product liability law covers any defective product that causes injury or death. If you were using the product as intended when it malfunctioned and injured you, then this may be considered a case of negligence on behalf of the manufacturer and/or distributor of said item. You should also make sure that your injury claim falls under Illinois statute.
These things can be difficult to determine because this area of law is particularly technical. At Carlson Bier, our personal injury lawyer Elgin Illinois has experience with these types of cases. We have an in-depth understanding of how these claims work, will evaluate your case, and will determine if you can take legal action.
What can I recover in a product liability claim?
If you are injured by a product that is defective and not safe for use, you may be able to recover monetary compensation for:
- Medical bills – Whether you have a one time hospital bill or need ongoing medical care, the responsible party may be responsible for covering those costs. Make sure to save all bills related to your medical care: hospital bills, doctors office bills, bills for prescription medication, or bills for any ongoing outpatient treatment or rehabilitation you needed.
- Pain and suffering – In Illinois, this is considered any physical or emotional stress that has resulted from your injuries. Anxiety and depression are two examples of emotional stress that may result from a serious injury.
- Lost wages – If you have had to take unpaid time off of work for medical care or recovery, you may be able to be compensated for that time.
If you have been injured by a defective product, contact personal injury lawyer Elgin Illinois today
If you or someone you love has been injured by a dangerous or defective product, contact our personal injury lawyer Elgin Illinois today for a legal consultation. At Carlson Bier Associates our attorneys can help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact us today.
