Motorists expect that the cars they are driving are safe. Unfortunately, auto defects exist and they can cause or exacerbate an auto accident. When a defective vehicle is responsible for an auto accident, you may be entitled to compensation for any resulting injuries or damages from the auto maker or manufacturer of the defective product.
The Chicago auto accident attorneys at Cogan & Power, P.C. focus on helping persons who are injured in Illinois auto accidents, including accidents involving auto defects, obtain full and fair financial recovery. We have significant experience handling auto accident cases and have obtained numerous notable verdicts and settlements for our clients, including $6.8 million for a 24 year-old-man who was killed on an Illinois expressway in a collision with a commercial motor vehicle.
Auto and truck defects can happen for a number of reasons and can involve several different vehicle components. Some of the most common vehicle defects include:
Product liability laws hold anyone along a product’s supply chain – including designers, engineers, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers – liable for injuries and damages sustained as a result of a dangerous or defective product, including a defective vehicle.
Auto makers, designers, engineers, and dealers are held to strict liability standards in Illinois, which means that they can be liable for injuries, damages, and deaths caused by an auto defect, regardless of whether they knew or should have known of the auto defect. In order to establish strict liability, the plaintiff must show the following:
•the vehicle or auto part was defective and unreasonably dangerous for its intended purpose;
•the defect existed when the product left the vehicle manufacturer; and
•the defective vehicle caused the plaintiff’s injury.
If you were injured in an auto accident that involved an auto defect, it is important to consult with a skilled product liability attorney and act quickly to protect your legal rights, assemble relevant evidence, and comply with applicable statutes of limitations.
Contact the Chicago accident and injury attorneys at Cogan & Power at (312) 477-2500 to schedule a free consultation to discuss a possible product liability claim. If you cannot come to our offices in downtown Chicago, we will come to you. And because we take cases on a contingency basis, you will not pay any fee unless we get you compensation.