Product Liability Lawyer Deerfield, IL

Were you hurt by a product that was supposed to be safe?

Plaintiff-focused attorneys holding manufacturers accountable for dangerous products across Deerfield, IL.

People trust that the products they buy, from car parts and appliances to medications and children’s gear, have been designed and built to be safe. When a defect turns an everyday item into a hazard, the injuries can be severe and the company responsible is often a large corporation with a well-funded defense. A product liability lawyer in Deerfield, IL at Jacobson Injury Firm investigates what went wrong, works with the right experts, identifies everyone in the chain of distribution, and pursues the compensation injured people deserve. Attorney Adam Jacobson, licensed in Illinois, prepares each claim as though it will be decided by a jury. Contact us for a free consultation to learn what your case may be worth.

Product Liability Lawyer Deerfield, IL

A product liability claim arises when a defective or unreasonably dangerous product injures someone. Illinois recognizes strict liability for defective products, which means that in many cases an injured person does not have to prove the manufacturer was careless, only that the product was defective, that the defect made it unreasonably dangerous, and that it caused real harm during normal or foreseeable use. Liability can extend across the entire chain of distribution. Matters that proceed to litigation are heard in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Lake County.

The Three Types of Product Defects

Illinois product liability law generally recognizes three categories of defect, and the type shapes how the case is proven:

• Design defects. The product is dangerous because of how it was designed, so every unit is flawed even when manufactured perfectly.
• Manufacturing defects. The design is sound, but something went wrong during production, making a particular unit or batch dangerous.
• Failure to warn. Also called a marketing defect, this arises when a product lacks adequate instructions or warnings about a non-obvious risk.

Common Product Liability Cases We Handle

Dangerous products appear in nearly every corner of daily life. Our firm handles claims involving defective auto parts such as faulty airbags, tires, and brakes, which can turn a routine drive into a serious Deerfield car accident, defective medical devices and pharmaceuticals, unsafe household appliances and tools, and dangerous children’s products and toys. Defective products can also cause Deerfield burn injury claims when batteries or appliances ignite. When a defect causes a Deerfield catastrophic injury or a Deerfield wrongful death, the consequences reach far beyond the initial injury.

Illinois’s Statute of Repose: Why Timing Is Different in Product Cases

Illinois sets strict deadlines, and product liability cases involve two separate clocks. Beyond the ordinary statute of limitations, Illinois imposes a statute of repose under 735 ILCS 5/13-213. For strict-liability product claims, this creates a hard cutoff that runs from when the product was first sold or delivered, generally the earlier of 10 years from delivery to the initial user or 12 years from delivery by the seller. That distinction matters: a statute of repose can bar a claim involving an older product even if the injury happened recently. Certain situations, such as an express warranty of a longer useful life or fraud, can change how these deadlines apply, so having a lawyer review your specific dates early is essential.

Why Choose Jacobson Injury Firm as Your Product Liability Lawyer in Deerfield, IL?

A Scientific Background That Matters

Product cases often turn on technical evidence, engineering, materials, and how an injury actually occurred. Adam Jacobson’s background fits that demand. Along with his law degree from Florida International University College of Law and bar admissions in Illinois, Florida, New York, and Connecticut, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology with a minor in Immunology. That scientific foundation helps him work through complex product and medical evidence and question a defendant’s experts effectively.

Direct Attorney Access and Real Recoveries

Unlike high-volume firms that pass clients between paralegals, Adam personally handles every case from the first phone call to final resolution. He has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients and knows the Lake County courts where these cases are decided.

No Fee Unless We Win

Product liability cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, so there is no retainer and no hourly billing, and a fee is owed only if we recover for you. This lets injured people take on large manufacturers without financial risk. For the full range of matters we handle, see our Deerfield personal injury lawyer overview.

Understanding Damages and Fault Under Illinois Law

Once a defect and causation are established, compensation is meant to restore what the injury took from you. Depending on the facts, recoverable damages may include medical expenses from emergency care through rehabilitation and future treatment, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and out-of-pocket costs. Because defective-product injuries are frequently severe, future care and lost earning capacity often make up a large share of the claim.

A manufacturer will often argue that the injured person misused the product or ignored a warning. Under Illinois’s modified comparative negligence rule in 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, a recovery can be reduced by the injured person’s share of fault, and a person found 51% or more at fault recovers nothing. Careful evidence about how the product was actually used is often central to defeating these arguments.

Important Aspects of a Product Liability Case

A few factors tend to decide how these claims unfold. Preserving the product itself is critical, because it is often the single most important piece of evidence, so it should not be repaired, discarded, or returned. Expert analysis is usually needed to establish the defect and rule out other causes. Recall notices and complaint histories can support the claim, and public resources such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the NHTSA vehicle recall database track many product hazards. And prompt medical care ties the injury to the product rather than to some other cause.

The Product Liability Case Timeline

Every claim runs on its own schedule, but most follow the same path. We investigate the injury, secure and examine the product, and identify every liable party in the chain of distribution. We work with engineering and medical experts and follow your treatment so the claim reflects the full scope of your injuries. We then submit a demand and negotiate toward a fair settlement. If the defense refuses a reasonable amount, we file suit and move into discovery. Finally, the case resolves through settlement or, when necessary, a jury trial.

Important Illinois Legal Resources

Illinois law sets the framework for these claims. The product liability statute of repose appears in 735 ILCS 5/13-213, the general statute of limitations in 735 ILCS 5/13-202 gives most injury claims two years, and modified comparative negligence under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 controls how shared blame affects recovery. Recall and safety information is available from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Product Liability Lawyer FAQs

Do I have to prove the company was negligent to win a product liability case?

Often, no. Illinois recognizes strict liability for defective products, so you generally need to show the product was defective, the defect made it unreasonably dangerous, and it caused your injury during normal or foreseeable use, rather than proving the manufacturer was careless. Negligence and warranty theories may also apply.

Who can be held responsible for a defective product?

Responsibility can extend to everyone in the chain of distribution, including the manufacturer of the finished product, the maker of a defective component part, the distributor, and the retailer that sold it. Identifying every liable party expands the insurance coverage available to compensate you.

How long do I have to file a product liability claim in Illinois?

Illinois has two clocks. A statute of limitations generally gives two years from the injury, and a separate statute of repose under 735 ILCS 5/13-213 sets a hard outer cutoff based on when the product was first sold or delivered. Because an older product can bar a claim even after a recent injury, have your dates reviewed as soon as possible.

What should I do with the product that injured me?

Keep it, and do not repair, alter, or throw it away. The product itself is usually the most important evidence in the case, and preserving it exactly as it was, along with packaging, manuals, and receipts if you have them, can make a significant difference.

What does it cost to hire a product liability lawyer?

Nothing upfront. Jacobson Injury Firm handles product liability cases on a contingency basis, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you, and the initial consultation is free.

Our Deerfield Office

Jacobson Injury Firm serves injured clients throughout Deerfield and Lake County from our office at 570 Lake Cook Road, Suite 300, Deerfield, IL 60015. Our team is available 24 hours a day, and you can reach us at (773) 888-7192 to arrange a free consultation.

Contact Jacobson Injury Firm to Schedule a Consultation

If a defective product injured you or someone you love, you do not have to take on a manufacturer and its insurers alone. A Deerfield product liability lawyer at our firm can review what happened, preserve the evidence, and pursue the full compensation Illinois law allows. Consultations are free, and we work on a contingency basis, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover for you. Contact Jacobson Injury Firm today to speak directly with Adam Jacobson.