When you purchase a product, you expect it to work properly, but sometimes products have problems that cause them to malfunction. Unfortunately, hazardous products can injure people to the point that they need substantial medical treatment or hospitalization. When a dangerous product harms someone, that person may be eligible for compensation under the applicable product liability law. If you or a loved one were harmed because of a defective product, our Ottawa product liability lawyer may be able to help.
Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP has provided legal representation to Illinois citizens who were injured because of a hazardous product. We understand that it can be intimidating to file a claim, especially when a company acted negligently. We’re not afraid to stand up to big companies and have them accept responsibility when their negligence harmed other people. Our lawyers will represent your best interests and fight for you to get the compensation you deserve.
Before learning more about how we can help you, let’s look into what can go wrong with products that makes them dangerous.
What Makes Products Harmful?
Products are developed in stages that takes them from production to getting on shelves. Negligence can happen during these different stages of development and result in harming a consumer. Let’s break down the points where products can become defective.
- Design
- Manufacturing
- Instructions
Companies are supposed to test their products to make sure they’re safe. If they don’t do this and there’s a design flaw, the product could malfunction or break down, and potentially cause accidents and injuries.
Issues can arise while the product is being designed. If the manufacturing company uses cheaper materials or overlooks important aspects of designing the product and its component parts, this could lead to future problems.
The product’s packaging and instructions are also a place where negligence can occur. If the product instructs the consumer how to use it, but there’s a misprint or misleading images that could lead to misuse, then the consumer could get hurt. Some products may even fail to warn consumers of non-obvious ways that the product could cause harm.
You may not know where the negligence occurred, but our product liability attorney can find out through their thorough investigation. After assessing what happened, we’ll be able to determine how the defect caused your injuries. Now that you know how products can be defective, let’s look at which products are typically affected.
What Are the Common Types of Hazardous Products?
Because of the ways that production can go wrong, any product has the potential to be defective. There are a few common ones that may be similar to your case:
- Auto parts
- Power tools
- Household appliances
- Children’s toys
- Defective medical devices
If your vehicle has something wrong with the engine, steering, air bags, brakes, or any component, it could cause an accident or fail to work if an accident occurs. Car accidents can cause significant injuries. While it’s common to think that another person driving may have been responsible, the defective product may be the cause. It takes an experienced individual to look what an accident report says and determine what went wrong. Our attorneys in Ottawa can help you.
Power tools may be a common part of a person’s job, or they may use them around the house. If a power tool is defective, it could possibly harm the person using it or others around them.
Everyone uses a household appliance at least once a day. Items like ovens, toasters, and air conditioners can typically be found in most households. When a defective appliance is in a house, it could harm the people using it as well as possibly become a fire hazard. Defective children’s toys could also have electrical issues. They can also contain chemicals that cause illnesses or have parts that are choking hazards.
If you’ve been harmed by another type of device, you should still reach out to our lawyers. We’ll take a look at what happened and evaluate if you have a valid claim.
Defective Products Can Cause Devastating Injuries
When a product doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do, it can have serious consequences. If a motor vehicle has a defective auto part, the person could get in a crash that causes a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, or other significant injuries.
One major concern for hazardous products is if they can spark and cause a fire. A consumer could sustain serious burns or suffer from smoke inhalation.
If someone is using machinery like lawn equipment, a malfunction could cause accidental amputation or serious wounds.
If you or a loved one was harmed by a dangerous product and had to go to the hospital, you may have incurred medical expenses for treatment. You may also require additional medical treatment as you take time to heal. If you’re missing work, you may feel stressed out about how you’re going to afford care, pay the bills, and keep up with your other expenses. This is where we come in.
Our Ottawa product liability lawyer will look at what the accident cost you. We’ll compile evidence to show how you were wrongfully injured and develop the materials needed to show that you deserve compensation for your injuries. Your compensation can help you keep up with your financial responsibilities. When you’re able to cover these costs, you’ll have peace of mind so you can recover without worry.
Get in touch with our firm today. We’ll schedule a free case evaluation and you can tell us what happened to you as well as ask questions. We can discuss your options and find the best path for you.
