Chicago Product Liability Lawyer

At Conboy Law, our Chicago product liability lawyer holds manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable when their defective products hurt people. You trusted a product to be safe. When a product defect puts you in the hospital, the company that made or sold it should pay for the damage it caused. These cases pit injured consumers against powerful corporations with large legal teams and deep pockets. We level that playing field. Call (801) 506-0800 today for a free consultation, and let Conboy Law fight back on your behalf.

How Conboy Law Can Help After a Product Liability Injury in Chicago

Conboy Law has handled complex product liability cases in Chicago and throughout Illinois for years. We know the Cook County courts, the corporate defense tactics manufacturers use, and how to build a case that holds an entire supply chain accountable. Our law firm works with engineering experts, product safety specialists, and medical professionals to prove how and why a product was defective. These cases often involve multiple defendants, and we pursue every one of them.

We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win your product liability claim. Direct attorney access is standard at Conboy Law, not a premium. We handle all communications with corporate legal teams and insurers so you can focus on healing. With millions recovered for injured clients, we bring real results to product liability lawsuits in Illinois.

Our Record of Results for Product Liability Victims

Conboy Law has achieved significant multi-million-dollar results for Chicago clients seriously injured by defective and dangerous products. We have recovered compensation for victims of defective medical devices, dangerous drugs, faulty motor vehicle parts, and more. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, but our track record reflects what skilled, relentless trial lawyers can achieve against well-funded corporate defendants.

How Common Are Product Liability Claims in Chicago, IL?

Defective product injuries happen on a staggering scale. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, consumer products are involved in approximately 40 million emergency department-treated injuries every year in the United States. In a city like Chicago, a major retail and distribution hub where consumer goods flow through supply chains constantly, the risk of exposure to defective products is particularly high.

Product liability law in Illinois allows injured consumers to target every party in the supply chain, not just the original product manufacturer. That includes distributors, wholesalers, and retailers who put a dangerous defect into your hands. The National Safety Council reports that product-related injuries and deaths represent a significant share of all preventable harm in the modern era. If a product harmed you, you may have a strong product liability claim.

What Causes Most Product Liability Injuries in Chicago, IL?

Illinois product liability law identifies three legal categories of product defects. Each one can form the basis of a liability lawsuit, and Conboy Law handles all three.

• Design defects: The product is unsafe by design, even when built correctly. For example, a vehicle with a steering column that collapses on impact due to poor engineering
• Manufacturing defects: The product design is sound, but an error during production made one unit dangerous. For example, a power tool where a faulty weld causes the blade guard to detach
• Marketing defects or failure to warn: The product lacks adequate safety warnings or instructions. For example, a dangerous drug sold without disclosing a known drug interaction, or a hair dryer with no warning about water hazards

Any of these three defect types can support a product liability claim in Illinois. Conboy Law is experienced in identifying, proving, and litigating all three categories under Illinois strict liability rules.

Common Products Involved in Defective Product Injuries

Certain product categories appear more often in product liability lawsuits than others. Products we commonly handle include:

• Motor vehicles and auto parts, including defective airbags, brakes, tires, and automotive parts with design flaws
• Children's toys and juvenile products with choking hazards or entrapment risks
• Household appliances and household products with fire hazards and electrocution risks
• Pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices, including cases like the Medtronic O-Arm O2 Imaging System and EzriCare Artificial Tear Recall
• Pressure cookers, with ongoing Pressure Cooker Litigation tied to explosion and burn injuries
• Industrial equipment and recreational equipment with missing or defective safety guards
• Talcum Powder and other consumer goods linked to toxic tort cases
• E-cigarettes and vaping devices with battery explosion risks

If a product you used caused your injury, Conboy Law can evaluate whether a dangerous defect and a viable claim exist.

What Is My Chicago Product Liability Case Worth?

Product liability cases in Chicago can result in substantial compensation, especially when a defective product caused serious or permanent injuries. No attorney can promise a dollar figure, but several key factors drive case value:

• Severity and permanence of the personal injuries caused by the product defect
• Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, hospitalization, and rehabilitation
• Lost wages and long-term loss of earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Whether the product caused permanent disability or disfigurement
• The number of liable parties, such as manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, may all share responsibility
• Whether the defendant knew about the defect and concealed it, which may support punitive damages
• Extent of product recalls, prior complaints, or FDA warnings involving the same product
• Insurance coverage and financial resources of each defendant

Product liability cases carry a higher potential for compensation than many other personal injury cases because multiple defendants may be responsible. In mass tort and multi-district litigation situations, individual case strategy may also shift. Call (801) 506-0800 to discuss what your specific claim may be worth.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Product Liability Victims?

Illinois law allows victims of defective products to seek compensation for economic losses, non-economic harm, and, in certain cases, punitive damages. Product liability cases are among the few personal injury contexts in which punitive damages are regularly available, especially when a company knowingly placed a dangerous product on the market. Below is a breakdown of what each category covers.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the quantifiable financial losses caused by the defective product. These include:

• Emergency medical treatment and hospitalization
• Surgery, specialist care, and post-operative recovery
• Ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation
• Future medical expenses and long-term care needs
• Prescription medications and replacement medical devices
• Lost income during recovery and future loss of earning capacity
• Property damage caused by the defective product, such as fire damage from a faulty appliance
• Out-of-pocket costs, including transportation, home care, and adaptive equipment

Non-Economic and Punitive Damages

Non-economic damages compensate for the personal and emotional harm that carries no fixed price. These include:

• Physical pain and suffering during treatment and beyond
• Emotional distress and psychological trauma
• Loss of enjoyment of life and meaningful activities
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Loss of consortium for spouses and family members

Illinois courts may also award punitive damages when a manufacturer or seller knowingly placed a dangerous defect on the market, concealed safety concerns, or acted with reckless disregard for consumer safety. Illinois imposes no cap on non-economic damages in personal injury cases, which means courts can award full compensation based on the true scope of your loss.

Can I Recover Damages If I'm Being Blamed for a Product Liability Injury in Illinois?

Yes. Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule, and you can still recover compensation even if you share some of the blame. Here is how it works:

• You can recover as long as you are less than 51% at fault
• Your compensation is reduced proportionally by your share of fault
• For example, if you are 15% at fault on a $500,000 claim, you recover $425,000

Corporate defendants use specific tactics to shift blame onto injured consumers. These include claims that:

• The consumer misused the product
• The consumer ignored clear safety warnings
• The consumer modified the product in an unsafe way
• The consumer assumed the risk of a known danger

These arguments are common because they work, unless you have experienced product defect lawyers on your side. Conboy Law counters every one of these defense strategies. Do not assume your product liability claim has no value before speaking with us. Even if the company argues you were at fault, you may still recover significant compensation.

We'll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Product Liability Injuries

Product liability cases pit injured consumers against well-funded corporations, and Conboy Law has the experience, resources, and determination to compete at that level. We pursue every liable party in the supply chain, from the product manufacturer to the component maker to the distributor to the retailer. We use product safety engineers, medical experts, and economic analysts to document every category of damage your injury produced. Our attorneys handle all litigation strategy, Daubert challenges, and trial preparation while you focus on recovery.

Injuries Commonly Caused by Defective Products

We represent clients injured by a wide range of defective products and consumer product injuries, including:

• Burns and fire injuries from faulty household appliances, electronics, and flammable consumer goods
• Traumatic brain injuries from defective helmets, vehicle roof collapse, and falling industrial equipment
• Spinal cord injuries from vehicle rollovers and defective recreational products
• Lacerations and amputations from defective power tools and industrial equipment without safety guards
• Toxic exposure and chemical burns from dangerous household products, as well as Legionnaires' Disease outbreaks, are linked to contaminated water systems.
• Drug and medical device injuries from dangerous drugs and failed implants with undisclosed side effects
• Electrocution from defective electronics and wiring in household products
• Broken bones and crush injuries from defective ladders, machinery, and furniture

If a defective product caused your injury, Conboy Law will evaluate your claim at no cost.

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Product Liability Injury in Illinois?

Product liability claims in Illinois can proceed under strict liability or negligence, and the distinction matters. Under strict liability, you do not need to prove the manufacturer was careless. You only need to show that the product was defective and that the defect caused your injury. Under negligence, you must show the defendant failed to exercise reasonable care in the design, manufacturing, or marketing of the product.

Either way, four elements must be established:

1. The product was defective, whether through design, manufacturing, or a failure to warn
2. The defect existed when the product left the defendant's control
3. The defect caused your injury or wrongful death
4. You suffered real, documented harm as a result

Key evidence in product liability cases includes:

• The defective product itself, which you must preserve and not repair or discard
• Purchase records and product documentation
• Medical records establishing injury causation
• Engineering and product safety expert witnesses
• Prior complaints, product recalls, or FDA warnings involving the same product
• Internal company documents obtained through discovery

The Illinois Product Liability Act and federal and state laws both govern how these cases proceed. Preserving the defective product and contacting Conboy Law as soon as possible is the most important step you can take.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Product Liability Injury in Illinois?

In Illinois, most product liability lawsuits must be filed within 2 years of the injury. Key rules and exceptions include:

• Discovery rule: If the injury or its connection to a defective product was not immediately apparent, the two-year clock may begin when you discovered or reasonably should have discovered the defect and its role in causing your harm. This is frequently the case in pharmaceutical and toxic tort cases.
• Statute of repose: Illinois imposes a 12-year statute of repose on product liability claims, meaning no claim can be filed more than 12 years after the product was first sold, regardless of when the injury occurred
• Minors: The statute of limitations under 735 ILCS 5/13-202 generally does not begin until the injured minor turns 18
• Wrongful death: A two-year window applies from the date of death, not the date of the product purchase

Do not wait. Companies begin building their defense the moment an injury occurs. Evidence degrades, products are destroyed, and witnesses disappear. Contact Conboy Law now to protect your right to pursue a claim.

Contact a Chicago Product Liability Lawyer for a Free Consultation

You trusted that the product you used was safe. When a manufacturer's negligence or a dangerous defect puts you in harm's way, Conboy Law is ready to fight back. Our Chicago product liability lawyers offer a free consultation with no obligation and no upfront costs. We do not get paid unless we win your case.

With millions recovered against large corporate defendants, direct attorney access from day one, and a proven record in Cook County courts, Conboy Law is the law firm Chicago injury victims trust. Remember to preserve the defective product, as it is your most critical piece of evidence. Call (801) 506-0800.