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Rockford, IL Product Liability Attorney

Every day, people across the Chicago area and throughout Illinois use products they trust, from kitchen appliances and power tools to children’s toys and vehicle parts. When one of those products fails and causes serious harm, the consequences can be life-changing. Medical bills pile up, work becomes impossible, and families are left trying to figure out what to do next. If a defective product hurt you or someone you love, Illinois law gives you the right to fight back. At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we help injured people in Chicago, Rockford, and communities all across Illinois hold manufacturers and sellers accountable for the harm their products cause.

The Scope of Defective Product Injuries in Illinois
How Illinois Product Liability Law Works
Types of Product Defects That Can Support a Claim
The Innocent Seller Defense and Who Can Be Held Liable
Filing Deadlines and What to Do After a Product Injury
FAQs About Rockford, IL Product Liability Claims

The Scope of Defective Product Injuries in Illinois

Defective product injuries are far more common than most people realize. In 2024, 15.1 million people were treated in emergency departments for injuries resulting from consumer products. That is a staggering number, and it reflects a serious, ongoing problem. Most of the injuries involve everyday products often assumed to be safe, and many of these injuries occur to our most vulnerable populations, including older adults and young children.

Illinois residents are not immune to these dangers. Whether you are shopping on the Magnificent Mile, driving on I-90 through Rockford, or using a product you bought near Millennium Park, a defective item can cause serious harm at any moment. Consumer product-related injuries increased 18.2% in 2024, which means the problem is getting worse, not better. In 2024, the CPSC issued 63 warnings about hazardous products after companies refused to cooperate with a recall or did not respond to the regulator. That tells you something important: some companies know their products are dangerous and still do nothing about it.

When a product hurts you, the injury is only part of the problem. Lost income, ongoing medical care, and the emotional toll of recovery all add up fast. You deserve someone in your corner who understands Illinois product liability law and knows how to build a strong case. That is exactly what the team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is here to do. We serve clients in Chicago, Rockford, and throughout the state, and we are ready to hear your story.

How Illinois Product Liability Law Works

Illinois product liability law allows injured people to pursue claims under several legal theories. The three main approaches are strict liability, negligence, and breach of warranty. Each one gives you a different path to recovery, and a skilled attorney can help you figure out which applies to your situation.

Strict liability is often the most powerful tool available. Under this theory, you do not have to prove that the manufacturer was careless. You only need to show that the product was unreasonably dangerous and that the defect caused your injury. This makes it easier to hold large companies accountable, even when they try to hide behind complex manufacturing processes.

Illinois also applies a modified comparative fault rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. This law says that if you are found partially at fault for your own injury, your damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, if your fault is more than 50%, you cannot recover at all. This is why it matters so much to have an attorney who can present your case clearly and protect your right to full compensation.

Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117, when multiple defendants are found liable, they are jointly and severally liable for your past and future medical expenses. Any defendant whose fault is 25% or greater is also jointly and severally liable for all other damages. This means you have a better chance of actually collecting what you are owed, even if one defendant has limited resources. These laws are designed to protect injured people, and Briskman Briskman & Greenberg knows how to use them on your behalf.

Types of Product Defects That Can Support a Claim

Not every product injury leads to a valid legal claim. To succeed in a product liability case, you generally need to show that the product had a specific type of defect. Illinois recognizes three main categories, and understanding them helps you see whether your situation may qualify.

A manufacturing defect happens when something goes wrong during the production process. The product design may be perfectly fine, but a specific item or batch comes out of the factory in a dangerous condition. Think of a car with a faulty brake line that was never installed correctly, or a children’s toy with a sharp edge left over from a machine error. These defects affect individual products rather than the entire product line.

A design defect is different. Here, the product was built exactly as intended, but the design itself is unsafe. Every single item in the product line carries the same risk. A classic example is a vehicle with a top-heavy design that makes it prone to rolling over during normal driving. The General Motors ignition switch scandal is a well-known example of a catastrophic design defect, where faulty switches caused engines to shut off while driving, disabling airbags and power steering, leading to at least 124 deaths and resulting in GM paying over $2.5 billion in settlements.

A failure to warn defect occurs when a product is dangerous in ways that are not obvious to the user, and the manufacturer does not provide adequate warnings or instructions. A medication that causes serious side effects without any label warning is one example. A power tool that can cause injury if used in a certain way, without any safety instructions, is another. If you were hurt because you were not warned about a known risk, you may have a strong claim. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg can review the facts of your case and help you understand your options.

The Innocent Seller Defense and Who Can Be Held Liable

One question people often ask is who they can sue when a defective product hurts them. The answer is that Illinois law allows you to pursue claims against manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers, depending on the circumstances. However, there is an important rule called the Innocent Seller Defense under 735 ILCS 5/2-621 that can affect how your case unfolds.

Under this law, if you file a product liability claim based on strict liability against a seller who is not the manufacturer, that seller can file an affidavit identifying the correct manufacturer. Once you file your complaint against the manufacturer and the manufacturer has answered, the court may dismiss the strict liability claim against the seller. This protects retailers and distributors who simply sold a product without knowing it was defective.

However, that protection disappears in certain situations. A seller cannot use this defense if they exercised significant control over the design or manufacture of the product, provided instructions or warnings to the manufacturer related to the defect, had actual knowledge of the defect, or actually created the defect. So if a local retailer near the Rockford area or a Chicago distributor knew a product was dangerous and sold it anyway, they can still be held liable.

This is why it is so important to work with an attorney who digs into the details of your case. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg investigates the entire supply chain, from the factory floor to the store shelf, to identify every party that may share responsibility for your injuries. You should not have to settle for less just because the picture looks complicated at first.

Filing Deadlines and What to Do After a Product Injury

Time is one of the most critical factors in any product liability case. Illinois law sets strict deadlines for filing a lawsuit, and missing them can cost you your right to recover anything at all. For personal injury lawsuits, Illinois applies a two-year statute of limitations from the date of the injury or the date when the plaintiff should have discovered the injury. This is known as the discovery rule, and it can be important in cases where the connection between a product and your injury was not immediately obvious.

Illinois also has a statute of repose for product liability cases. The statute of repose bars any lawsuit filed after the earlier of 12 years after the first sale, lease, or delivery of possession of the product by a seller, including the manufacturer, or 10 years after the first sale, lease, or delivery of possession of the product to its initial user, consumer, or other non-seller. These hard deadlines exist regardless of when you discover your injury, so acting quickly is always in your best interest.

If you are hurt by a defective product, there are steps you should take right away. Seek medical attention first, and keep all records of your treatment. Preserve the product if possible, and do not throw it away or return it to the store. Take photos of your injuries and the product itself. Write down everything you remember about how the injury happened. Then, contact an attorney as soon as you can.

At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we understand that you may be dealing with pain, stress, and uncertainty right now. Our team is here to guide you through the process, answer your questions, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Whether you are in Rockford, Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, the suburbs along the North Shore, or anywhere else in Illinois, we are ready to help. Reach out to our Chicago abogado de lesiones personales team today to discuss your case.

FAQs About Rockford, IL Product Liability Claims

What is the difference between a manufacturing defect and a design defect in Illinois?

A manufacturing defect means something went wrong when a specific product was being built, making it different from other products in the same line. A design defect means the entire product line is unsafe because the original design itself is flawed. Both types can support a product liability claim in Illinois, though the evidence you need to gather will differ. An attorney can help you figure out which type of defect applies to your situation.

Can I sue a retailer in Rockford or Chicago if they sold me a defective product?

Yes, in some cases you can. Illinois law allows claims against retailers, distributors, and other sellers, not just manufacturers. However, the Innocent Seller Defense under 735 ILCS 5/2-621 can protect sellers who simply sold a product without knowing it was defective and who had no control over its design or manufacture. If the seller knew about the defect, created it, or exercised control over the manufacturing process, that protection does not apply. An attorney can review your case and identify who may be held responsible.

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

Illinois generally gives you two years from the date of your injury, or from when you discovered the injury, to file a personal injury lawsuit. There is also a statute of repose that sets an outer deadline of 12 years from the product’s first sale or 10 years from when it was first delivered to a consumer, whichever comes first. These deadlines are firm, so it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after a product injury.

What if I was partly at fault for my own injury from a defective product?

Illinois follows a modified comparative fault rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. If you are found partially at fault, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 20% at fault and your damages are $100,000, you would recover $80,000. However, if you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover anything. This makes it important to have a skilled attorney who can present the facts of your case clearly and minimize any fault attributed to you.

What types of compensation can I recover in a product liability case?

If you win a product liability case in Illinois, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, future medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages related to your injury. In cases involving multiple defendants, Illinois law under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117 provides that all defendants found liable are jointly and severally responsible for your past and future medical expenses. The specific damages available depend on the facts of your case, and an attorney can help you understand what you may be entitled to recover.

More Resources About Rockford, IL Injury Lawyers

La experiencia general que tuve con Briskman Briskman & Greenberg fue del tipo que todo el mundo debería recibir de cualquier empresa.

El personal se mantuvo en contacto conmigo por teléfono y correo electrónico, estaban muy bien informados, se aseguraron de que entendiera lo que estaba pasando en todo momento, respondieron a todas mis preguntas, fueron transparentes, y definitivamente superaron mis expectativas. Los recomiendo encarecidamente.

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Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers (BBG) is a legal team you want on your side.

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