Defective Product Attorney Valparaiso

 

 

Defective Product Attorney Valparaiso

 

Every product on the market, from smartphones to heart stents, is supposed to undergo rigorous testing before reaching consumers. Yet every year, people in Valparaiso and across Indiana are seriously injured by dangerous or defective products. These injuries are often sudden, catastrophic, and completely preventable.

At Theodoros & Rooth, P.C., we understand how devastating it is when a trusted product causes harm. Our defective product attorney Valparaiso law firm can help. With over 75 years of combined experience and a proven track record of success, our defective product attorneys serve Valparaiso, IN and Porter County with confidence, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to justice. If you or a loved one was injured by a defective medical device, a dangerous drug, or a faulty consumer product, we’re here to help.

Our team of defective product lawyers is available 24/7 to answer your questions and offer a free consultation. Don’t let corporate negligence go unanswered; let us fight for the compensation and accountability you deserve.

Common Types of Defective Product Cases We Handle

At Theodoros & Rooth, P.C., we’ve seen how defective products, no matter how common or seemingly harmless, can lead to catastrophic injuries. We handle a wide range of defective product cases for individuals and families throughout Northwest Indiana. These include:

Consumer Electronics

Faulty electronics can cause fires, burns, and explosions. Examples of common electronics cases we handle include:

  • Exploding lithium-ion batteries in laptops, e-bikes, and smartphones
  • Short circuits in space heaters, hair dryers, and electric stoves that spark house fires
  • Remote-control toys or devices with electrical failures that shock children or malfunction unexpectedly

Medical Devices

Medical device defects often result in long-term health complications or even death. Our clients have experienced:

  • Metal-on-metal hip replacements causing tissue damage or metal poisoning
  • Defective insulin pumps that over-administer or fail to deliver correct dosages
  • Faulty surgical mesh that erodes tissue or migrates within the body
  • Pacemakers or defibrillators that deliver irregular impulses or stop working entirely

Dangerous Drugs and Pharmaceuticals

Drug manufacturers must warn consumers about side effects, but some fail to do so. Our defective product lawyers near Valparaiso have handled cases involving:

  • Blood thinners that cause uncontrolled internal bleeding without adequate warnings
  • Antidepressants linked to suicidal ideation in young adults and teens
  • Opioid painkillers that were aggressively marketed without disclosing addiction risks
  • Recalled heartburn or diabetes medications linked to cancer or organ damage

Motor Vehicle Defects

Many crashes are caused or worsened by defective auto components, including

  • Brake failures due to poorly made brake pads or hydraulic defects
  • Airbag malfunctions that either fail to deploy or explode on impact
  • Seatbelt latch failures that release during collisions
  • Tire tread separation or blowouts caused by manufacturing errors

Children’sChildren’s Products

Manufacturers have a duty to ensure child safety. Dangerous children’s products we’ve pursued claims against include:

  • Cribs with slats spaced too far apart, creating a strangulation hazard
  • High chairs that collapse or tip during use
  • Toys with small parts that break off and become choking risks
  • Teething products with toxic materials like lead or phthalates

Industrial and Workplace Equipment

We also represent workers injured by faulty equipment, including:

  • Defective ladders or scaffolding that collapse during use
  • Machines with missing safety guards that lead to amputations or crushing injuries
  • Improperly grounded power tools that cause electrocution or severe burns
  • Faulty valves or pressure systems that explode due to manufacturing oversight

What Compensation Can You Recover?

When a defective product causes serious injury or loss, victims are entitled to seek a broad range of damages under Indiana law. At Theodoros & Rooth, P.C., we fight to recover full and fair compensation for every aspect of your injury, past, present, and future.

Medical Expenses

Product-related injuries often lead to a cascade of immediate and long-term medical needs. Victims may require emergency room visits and ambulance transport just to stabilize their condition. In many cases, surgeries and extended hospital stays follow, sometimes including time in intensive care or repeat procedures to correct complications. After discharge, patients often face a schedule packed with follow-up appointments, including visits to orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, or other specialists. For those with permanent injuries or chronic conditions, the financial burden of projected future care must also be calculated into any settlement or trial verdict.

Lost Income and Loss of Earning Capacity

Beyond the physical toll, serious injuries can derail careers. Many victims are unable to work during their recovery, leading to significant lost wages. Others face long-term consequences that prevent them from returning to their previous profession or reduce their capacity to earn at the same level. This is especially devastating for young professionals or individuals in highly specialized fields. Missed promotions, lost overtime, and stalled career trajectories all contribute to a diminished financial future.

Pain and Suffering

Injuries from defective products don’t just affect your body; they change how you experience life. Chronic pain may limit your ability to walk, sleep, or perform daily tasks. Disfigurement, reduced mobility, or the lingering fear of a recurrence can take a deep emotional toll. Many clients suffer from anxiety and depression, particularly when their appearance or independence is permanently affected. The loss of joy in activities like hobbies, exercise, or time with loved ones is real and legally recognized as a compensable form of suffering.

Permanent Disability and Disfigurement

Some injuries are permanent and life-altering. Amputations or paralysis may require lifelong personal care, modifications to the home, and emotional adjustment. Visible scarring, especially to the face, can lead to lasting embarrassment and psychological distress. Traumatic brain injuries may cause memory loss or make it difficult to concentrate, affecting everything from job performance to social interaction. In the most serious cases, the injured person may require full-time assistance or major lifestyle accommodations.

At Theodoros & Rooth, P.C., our defective product lawyers serving Valparaiso work with medical professionals, economists, and care planners to capture the full scope of what you’ve lost and what you need to move forward. Our mission isn’t just to win your case. It’s to help you rebuild your life with dignity and financial security.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Defective Product Case?

One of the most significant challenges in a defective product case is determining exactly who is responsible. Unlike an auto accident, where one negligent driver may be to blame, product liability claims often involve a chain of businesses, each of which may have contributed to the defect. At Theodoros & Rooth, P.C., we carefully investigate every link in that chain to ensure all liable parties are held accountable.

Manufacturers are usually the first entity we examine. They may have used unsafe materials, rushed products to market without proper testing, or ignored serious quality control issues during assembly. Even if the actual defect came from a subcontractor, the primary manufacturer can still bear responsibility for putting the final product into consumers’ hands.

In some cases, the problem lies in a specific component. For example, a battery that explodes, a faulty valve in a medical device, or an electronic circuit board that causes a fire may all point to a part supplier rather than the final assembler. These component manufacturers are just as legally accountable when their part causes injury.

If the product’s core design was flawed from the beginning, regardless of how well it was built, engineers, design firms, or consultants who failed to address foreseeable risks may also be liable. A product doesn’t need to malfunction to be dangerous if the blueprint itself is unsafe.

Retailers and distributors can be held liable if they sold a product they should have known was dangerous. This can include selling recalled items, failing to provide safety instructions, or mishandling products during shipping and storage. Importantly, liability doesn’t require proof that the seller knew the product was defective, only that they sold it.

Third-party testing labs and certifiers may also be at fault if they give a dangerous product their stamp of approval without conducting an adequate review. In some cases, marketing firms or advertisers can be included if packaging omits critical warnings or misled consumers about how to use the item safely.

Because Indiana follows a rule of joint and several liability, even one at-fault party can be held responsible for the full amount of your damages. That helps ensure your recovery, even if another liable party is bankrupt or can’t be located. At Theodoros & Rooth, we dig deep into the product’s history using subpoenas, expert reports, and forensic analysis to uncover exactly where safety failed and who must be held responsible.

Indiana’s Product Liability Statute of Limitations

No matter how strong your case is, missing a legal deadline can eliminate your right to recover compensation. In Indiana, product liability claims must be filed within a strict legal timeframe, known as the statute of limitations.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?

Under Indiana law, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a defective product lawsuit. This applies to injuries caused by faulty consumer goods, medical devices, auto parts, and more.

If the claim is not filed within this two-year window, courts will likely dismiss the case, even if the evidence of negligence is overwhelming.

The Discovery Rule in Indiana

There are cases where the injury, or its connection to a product defect, is not immediately apparent. In those instances, Indiana law applies a discovery rule, starting the clock when you knew or reasonably should have known that a defective product caused your injury.

This is especially relevant for:

  • Implanted medical devices that slowly degrade or migrate over time
  • Medications with harmful side effects that emerge months or years later
  • Toxic exposure cases where symptoms take time to develop

There are a few other exceptions to the standard two-year rule:

  • Minors injured by defective products may have the statute delayed (or “tolled”) until they turn 18
  • Claims against a government entity, like a public hospital or school, require a Tort Claims Notice to be filed within just 180 days of the injury

By acting quickly, you protect your rights and give your legal team the best chance to build a compelling, evidence-backed case.

At Theodoros & Rooth, P.C., you can count on our Valparaiso, IN defective product attorneys to take time-sensitive cases seriously. From the moment you call, we work to preserve vital evidence and file your case well within Indiana’s legal deadlines.

Why Choose Theodoros & Rooth, P.C.?

When you’ve been injured by a defective product, choosing the right legal team can change everything. At Theodoros & Rooth, P.C., we’ve protected individuals and families throughout Valparaiso and Porter County since 1988. Our approach is built on experience, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility to those we serve.

Over 75 Years of Combined Experience

Our Valparaiso defective product attorneys bring decades of focused experience in personal injury to every case. We have the legal knowledge and courtroom skills to take on powerful corporations, manufacturers, and insurance companies. Whether you’re facing a complex medical device failure or a house fire caused by faulty electronics, we have the background and resources to get results.

Compassionate Support and 24/7 Availability

Our Valparaiso, IN defective product attorneys understand how confusing and overwhelming a serious injury can be. That’s why:

  • We return calls and emails promptly
  • You’ll receive regular updates from your legal team
  • We explain your legal options in clear, straightforward terms, never legal jargon

You are never alone in this process. We are available 24/7 to address your questions, provide reassurance, or respond to urgent developments in your case.

You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

Our Valparaiso defective product lawyers believe everyone deserves access to high-quality legal representation, regardless of their financial situation. That’s why:

  • All product liability cases are handled on a contingency fee basis
  • No upfront costs are required to start your case
  • We only get paid if we recover compensation on your behalf

Recognition and Results You Can Trust

  • Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell for ethical standards and legal ability
  • Named to Best Lawyers and included in Super Lawyers multiple times
  • Selected to the Best Law Firms list by U.S. News & World Report (2017)
  • Proven results in six- and seven-figure verdicts and settlements for product injury victims

At Theodoros & Rooth, we don’t just fight for compensation, we fight for justice. Our Valparaiso defective product attorneys take on the cases that matter, and we’re proud to stand beside the injured and their families throughout every stage of recovery.

Get a Free Consultation with Our Defective Product Attorney Valparaiso Location

If a defective product has harmed you or a loved one, don’t wait to get the answers and help you need. At Theodoros & Rooth, P.C., our defective product attorneys near Valparaiso are available to guide you through your legal options and begin investigating your case immediately.

Contact us online to schedule your free consultation. We proudly serve clients in Porter County and throughout Northwest Indiana.