Purchasing and consuming products is a part of everyday life for most Americans. From groceries to shampoo to toys for your children, there seem to be unlimited amounts of products to purchase. Sometimes, an item has a mistake or fault in its design or composition that injures the consumer. Whether a product was purchased online or in person, defective consumer goods may lead to an injury. If you were injured from a faulty product, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. 

What is Product Liability in Illinois? 

Product designers, manufacturers, and distributors have a responsibility to ensure that the product iis up to standard and works as advertised. A company or another individual that sells a product may be held responsible if the item causes injury to a consumer due to a mistake in its composition. Illinois law considers a product “defective” if it has an inherent flaw in its design, manufacturing, or its warning label. 

Mistakes in a product’s creation, design, or warning labels may lead to a serious injury. A chair with a faulty design may cause a person seated on it to fall and injure themselves. An incorrectly manufactured toy may have a piece sticking out that impales or scrapes a child playing with it. A medication with a faulty warning label may cause a person to suffer medical problems. 

While most dogs are considered a man’s best friend, dog bite injuries can leave devastating results for both the victim and the pet owner. Injuries sustained from a dog bite may cause the victim long-term physical disabilities, pain and suffering. Even if a dog has no history of being aggressive or violent, the owner may still be held liable if their dog attacks you. If you were attacked by a dog, it is important to reach out to a personal injury lawyer immediately to ensure you can protect yourself and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Suing for a Dog Bite Injury

The injuries that can occur from an animal attack can leave a victim disabled, disfigured, and with severe trauma. The costs that a victim accumulates from medical bills may be pricey, so they may be eligible to seek financial compensation to cover hospital bills and more during a claim or lawsuit. Per the Illinois statute of limitations on personal injury claims, typically, victims have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. 

Liability for Dog Attacks in Illinois 

Illinois dog owners are strictly liable for injuries caused by their dogs. The exception to this rule is if the dog who attacked was provoked, abused or otherwise instigated into attacking by the victim or someone else, the owner may not be held responsible. This is because provoking the dog would be an external circumstance that led to the dog attack. Many animals will become protective or aggressive if they feel threatened by another force. 

Wrongful death cases are devastating, not to mention challenging and emotionally draining. Losing a loved one is a difficult experience to endure as it is, but when your friend or family member passes away due to someone else's negligent behavior, the loss is compounded by the understanding that this did not need to happen this way.

Amid the shock and the grief that stems from the death of a loved one, many family members are unsure about what they should do next or where they should turn. Many wonder if a wrongful death case is worth pursuing, as people often assume that wrongful death cases are too hard to prove. While they are difficult, they are not impossible. 

What is a Wrongful Death Case? 

Before pursuing a wrongful death case, it is important to understand what a wrongful death entails. In Illinois, a wrongful death is classified as the death of an individual as the result of another person's negligence. If one party conducts himself or herself in a negligent manner and their actions cause the death of another party, then the party acting negligently may be proven to be at fault for the deceased party's death. 

When a victim of negligence first walks into a law office, their first questions are often who can I sue? And what is my case worth?

Of course, the answers hinge on a variety of factors. Simply attributing fault and assigning value to a specific claim can be complex undertakings. Furthermore, a variety of legal doctrines, often varying by state, influence how a case may proceed. In the State of Illinois, a good starting point for understanding liability in the personal injury context is the concept of joint and several liability.

What Is Joint Liability and Several Liability?

Joint and several liability may be pertinent when more than one party is at fault for the plaintiff’s injuries.

Swimming pools are associated with honest fun and relaxation. However, people frequently return from their swim with more than a tan. Americans all across the country are seriously injured in swimming pools every single year. In fact, more than 2,000 children are admitted into emergency rooms annually because of submersion injuries alone. Those that survive face a litany of challenges. Besides a long physical recovery, they may face medical debt, job loss, and mental trauma. Thankfully, victims have rights. If their injuries were caused by negligence or wrongdoing, they can take legal action against those responsible. A successful suit could bring a financial windfall, compensating the victim for their losses. Swimming pool lawsuits can take many different forms.

Swimming Pool Negligence and Premises Liability

Swimming pool owners owe a duty of care to everyone who enters their property. They are required to create a safe environment, keep the pool free from hazards, and take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of all swimmers.

If they violate their duty and someone suffers injuries as a result, they may be held liable.