Get trusted advice from our personal injury team. CALL NOW.
Decatur: 217-425-5900 | Springfield: 217-523-5900
Holding Companies Accountable For Injuries Caused by Dangerous Products
A product liability case arises when the manufacturer, supplier, distributor, or even potential retailer who manufactures, designs, or makes a product available to the general public is held liable for an injury caused by the product.
Most products we purchase today come with some type of warning. Unfortunately, all the hazards that the product could cause may not be known or disclosed to the public. Further, the hazard of the product may have occurred during the manufacturing of the product.
The Ford Pinto is a perfect example. The Pinto was found to have a defective fuel system design which led to explosions causing severe burns and deaths to drivers and car occupants. Ford did a risk/benefit analysis and although they had access to a new design that would have cost an additional $11 per car, they chose to not spend the $137 million for the fix since their analysis showed paying out claims for injury and death would only cost $49.5 million.
Product liability litigation has historically made products safer and informed consumers of the potential dangers of the products.
Shay & Associates lawyers are qualified to review and litigate a wide variety of cases involving injury or death in Illinois resulting from dangerous consumer products, drugs, and medical devices. For more detailed information on a specific type of case, please click on the page links directly below.
Types of Product Liability Cases
There are three types of product liability cases: manufacturing defects, design defects, and failure to warn. These types of cases tend to be quite complex and require an experienced attorney who is willing to go up against large corporations. Our lawyers are tenacious fighters.
Manufacturing Deffects
Obviously, this type of claim occurs when the injury-causing product was manufactured. In some cases, a defect can be caused by a careless worker or low-quality materials. Manufacturing defects could be caused by using the wrong screw, bolt or fastener on mechanical parts or attaching parts incorrectly.
Design Defects
A product can be designed exactly to a manufacturer’s specifications. But, if in the design process, those specifications are wrong or dangerous to the use of the product and cause injury, it would constitute a design defect product liability case.
Failure to Provide Adequate Warnings or Instruction
A product manufacturer is required to provide adequate warning or instruction on a product that could be dangerous to the user. A corrosive paint stripper without a warning label or a household product that doesn’t warn against possible fumes that could cause damage to the user’s respiratory system – both could cause real injury to the user and would, therefore, constitute a claim.
Request a Free Consultation Today
Product liability cases tend to be quite complex and require an experienced attorney. At Shay & Associates Law Firm, LLC, we believe in holding manufacturers liable for putting unsafe products on the market. If you’ve been injured due to any of the above types of product liability claim, call us today.
