Springfield Product Liability Attorneys

Sangamon County Law Firm Fighting for Victims of Defective Products

Defective products pose significant dangers to consumers, often resulting in severe injuries, financial losses, or even fatalities. These products can range from faulty electronics that can cause fires to defective automotive parts that lead to or worsen serious accidents. Product liability laws are in place to hold manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable for ensuring the safety and reliability of their goods.

At Haxel Law, we aim to help hold negligent manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable for dangerous products. Our experienced attorneys can help you pursue a product liability claim if you suffer injuries due to a product defect. We can work to secure the compensation you need to cover medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.

Our Springfield product liability lawyers can review your case and walk you through your legal options in a free consultation. Call (217) 215-4166 or contact us online to schedule an appointment today.

Types of Product Defects

Product liability generally falls into three primary categories: design defects, manufacturing defects, and marketing defects. Each type addresses different aspects of how a product may become harmful to consumers and outlines specific grounds upon which victims can base their legal claims.

Design defects arise when a flaw in the initial product design renders it inherently unsafe, even if manufactured correctly. Such defects indicate that there is an error or oversight within the product's design specifications that impacts every unit produced. For example, an electric kettle that lacks an automatic shut-off feature might be dangerously prone to overheating. Victims of design defects must demonstrate that a safer, economically feasible alternative design was possible and would have prevented the injury. Typically, these cases require substantial evidence, including expert testimonies, to prove that the risk was significant and that the proposed alternative design could have mitigated this risk.

Manufacturing defects, on the other hand, occur during the construction or production process, resulting in a product that deviates from its intended design and becomes dangerous. These defects are often attributed to poor quality control, human error, or faulty machinery. Unlike design defects, manufacturing defects do not affect every unit but rather a particular batch or series of products. An example might be a batch of sunglasses that lack UV protection due to a manufacturing error. In these cases, victims must typically establish that the product was flawed when it left the manufacturer and that this flaw caused their injuries.

Marketing defects, also known as a “failure to warn” or inadequate instructions, relate to safety warnings or instructions regarding proper product use. Even if a product is well-designed and properly manufactured, it can still be considered defective if it includes inadequate labels or instructions that mislead the consumer about potential risks. For example, a pharmaceutical product might be deemed defective if it lacks clear warnings about possible side effects or known drug interactions. In such cases, liability often hinges on whether the manufacturer knew or should have known about the risk and whether adequate warning could have reduced the likelihood of injury.

Determining whether you have a strong product liability claim and recovering compensation for damages generally hinges on a thorough investigation. Our product liability attorneys in Springfield, IL, know what to look for when investigating complex situations. Our team at Haxel Law can evaluate the circumstances of your injuries and advise whether you have a case. 

Who Is Liable for a Defective Product?

Determining liability for a defective product that causes injuries is a complex issue that involves multiple parties within the supply chain. In product liability law, several parties may be held accountable, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The primary responsibility typically lies with the manufacturer, as they design and produce the products. If the fault lies in the design, production, or testing of the product, the manufacturer could be directly liable for any harm caused. 

However, liability can extend beyond the manufacturer to include other entities in the distribution chain. Distributors, wholesalers, or even component part manufacturers can be held responsible if it is shown that the defect occurred while the product was under their control or if they contributed to the defect. Retailers – who sell the product directly to consumers – may also face liability.

In Illinois, you do not have to prove that any part of the supply chain acted negligently in their handling of a defective product. You can recover compensation through a product liability claim if you can establish that the product was unreasonably dangerous due to a defect that was present when the product left the control of the defendant and that this defect caused your injuries.