Product Liability Attorneys in Wisconsin

When we bring a product into our home, whether it is a new appliance, a child’s toy, or a car, we do so with an unspoken trust. We trust that the company that designed, manufactured, and sold it has done its job responsibly, ensuring the product is safe and will not cause harm. However, what happens when they break that trust? When a product we rely on every day turns out to be dangerous, the consequences can be life-altering. You may have sustained a severe injury, and now you are left with medical bills, lost wages, and a deep sense of betrayal.

At Bye, Goff & Rohde, our product liability attorneys in Wisconsin understand the anger, frustration, and fear you are experiencing. Our defective product lawyers in Eau Claire, La Crosse, and River Falls, WI are here to stand with you and fight on your behalf. No one should suffer because of corporate negligence. For over 50 years, we have helped people like you hold large corporations and their insurance companies accountable. When you are facing a complex legal battle, you need a team that genuinely cares about your well-being because serious injuries need serious lawyers.

What Is a Defective Product Case?

A defective product case, often called a product liability case, arises when an unsafe product injures a consumer. The injury could stem from the way the product was designed, manufactured, marketed, or labeled. Regardless of how the defect occurred, the law recognizes that companies have a duty to provide safe products to the public. When they fail, they can be held legally and financially responsible.

At its core, product liability law is about protecting people from corporate neglect. No individual should be left to shoulder the financial, physical, and emotional burdens of injuries caused by a defective or dangerous product.

Why Choose the Product Liability Attorneys of Bye, Goff & Rohde?

There are many law firms in Wisconsin, but not all possess the depth of experience, resources, and compassion necessary for handling high-stakes product liability cases. Here is what sets us apart:

• Over 50 Years of Excellence: We have built a legacy as Wisconsin’s personal injury powerhouse for over five decades.
• Board-Certified Attorneys: All partners are certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA), a distinction achieved by only 3% of lawyers nationwide.
• Unmatched Experience: Our attorneys bring over 180 years of combined legal experience. Our entire team, including paralegals and staff, has more than 400 years of combined knowledge.
• Proven Results: Our track record speaks for itself. We get results.
• Client-First Approach: We treat every client with care, respect, and compassion, because we know your case is not just about legal arguments. It is about your life.

We are proud to serve clients across the Badger State, from our law offices in Eau Claire, La Crosse, and River Falls. We also handle personal injury cases across the St. Croix river in Minnesota.

Types of Product Defects

Product liability cases generally fall into three categories. Understanding which type of defect caused your injury is the first step in building a strong case.

Design Defects

A design defect exists when a product is inherently unsafe because of a flaw in its design. This means that even if the product was manufactured perfectly according to its plans, it would still pose a risk of injury. Examples include:

• Vehicles: An SUV with a high center of gravity, which makes it prone to rollovers.
• Medical Devices: A poorly designed surgical implant that breaks down inside a patient’s body.
• Toys: A toy with small parts that can easily break off and become a choking hazard, even if the toy was assembled correctly.

In these cases, the problem is not with a single faulty product. It is with the entire product line.

Manufacturing Defects

A manufacturing defect occurs when a product is safe as designed, but an error during the manufacturing process makes it dangerous. This typically affects only a small percentage of a product run. Some examples include:

• Lawn Mowers: A lawn mower with a blade that was improperly attached, causing it to fly off and injure the user.
• Ladders: A ladder with a weak or incorrectly installed rung that collapses under normal use.
• Food Products: A packaged food item contaminated with a foreign substance due to an error on the assembly line.

These defects are often the result of carelessness or shortcuts during the production process.

Warning or Marketing Defects

This type of defect, often called a failure to warn, occurs when a product is dangerous because the manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings about its potential risks or proper instructions for its use. This is particularly relevant for products with non-obvious dangers. Examples include:

• Medication: A pharmaceutical drug that fails to warn about a serious side effect, such as an increased risk of heart attack.
• Cleaning Products: A powerful household cleaner that lacks a clear warning about the toxic fumes created when mixed with other chemicals.
• Power Tools: A saw that does not have a clear label warning users to wear safety goggles.

A company has a duty to inform consumers of any non-obvious risks associated with its product. When it fails to do so, it can be held liable.

Additional Contributing Factors to Product Defects

Beyond the primary categories of design, manufacturing, and warning defects, other factors can lead to a product being deemed dangerous and result in a product liability claim.

Engineering Mistakes

Engineering mistakes often overlap with design defects, but can also include errors in the selection of materials or the overall structural integrity of a product. For example, if an engineer specifies a type of plastic known to become brittle under standard environmental conditions, leading to the product’s failure and potential injury, this would be an engineering mistake.

Distribution and Packaging Issues

The journey of a product from the factory floor to the consumer’s hands is long, and errors can occur along the way. Distribution and packaging issues can make a product unsafe, even if it was originally manufactured correctly. This can include:

• Damage During Transit: A product that is mishandled or dropped, leading to a crack or internal damage that is not immediately visible but causes the product to fail later.
• Incorrect Packaging: A product requiring specific storage conditions, like refrigeration, that is packaged incorrectly, leading to spoilage or chemical changes that make it dangerous.

The liability for these issues may fall on the distributor or the retailer, not just the manufacturer.

False Advertising or Labeling

When a company makes a claim about a product’s safety or capabilities that turns out to be false, it can lead to a product liability lawsuit. False advertising or labeling misleads consumers into using a product in an unsafe way or into believing a product is safer than it is. For example, if a car manufacturer advertises a vehicle’s airbags as being “the safest on the market” when they know of a design flaw, and a consumer is injured as a result, they may have a claim based on false advertising.

Products That Commonly Cause Harm

Almost any consumer good has the potential to be dangerous if it is defective. At Bye, Goff & Rohde, our Wisconsin product liability attorneys have handled cases involving a wide range of products, including:

• Automobiles and vehicle parts
• Children’s toys, cribs, and car seats
• Cleaning products and household chemicals
• Snow blowers, lawnmowers, and power tools
• Kitchen appliances and electronics
• Furniture prone to tipping or collapsing
• Space heaters, air conditioners, and other household equipment
• Prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications
• Safety equipment, such as helmets or protective gear
• Office equipment, including paper shredders

If a product you trusted injured you or a loved one, you are not alone, and you may have the right to pursue a product liability claim. Our defective product lawyers in Eau Claire, La Crosse, and River Falls, WI are here to advocate for consumers.

Has a Defective Product Injured Your Child?

One of the most heartbreaking aspects of defective product cases is when they involve children. Products designed specifically for children, such as swings, walkers, bicycles, stuffed toys, and battery-operated cars, should undergo strict safety testing. Yet every year, dangerous products slip through the cracks and onto store shelves.

When a defective product injures a child, the damage goes far beyond medical bills. Families may face long-term rehabilitation needs, developmental challenges, and profound emotional trauma. Filing a lawsuit can help secure financial recovery, serve as a warning to other parents, and hold manufacturers accountable for failing to protect children.

No parent should ever have to wonder if the toy or crib they bought for their child will cause harm. Bye, Goff & Rohde take these cases personally, and we fight with everything we have to protect Wisconsin’s families.

Our Wisconsin Defective Product Attorneys Can Help You

After a serious injury, many people feel overwhelmed. They are unsure of their rights, uncertain about where to turn, and unsure of how they will manage financially. That is where an experienced defective product lawyer comes in. Our role is to take the burden off your shoulders. Here is what we do:

• Investigate the Cause of the Defect: We work with engineers, product safety experts, and investigators to uncover exactly what went wrong.
• Preserve Critical Evidence: We guide you in keeping the product, packaging, manuals, receipts, and photographs that will be crucial to your case.
• Build a Strong Claim: Using decades of combined experience, we develop a legal strategy tailored to your unique situation.
• Fight Corporate Lawyers and Insurers: Companies have powerful defense teams. At Bye, Goff & Rohde, you are not just hiring a lawyer. You are hiring an army.
• Seek Full Compensation: We pursue damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, future care needs, and more.

Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win. That allows families to focus on healing rather than worrying about how to afford legal help.

Steps to Take After a Defective Product Injury

If you suspect that a defective product caused your injury, acting quickly can make a significant difference in your case. Here are some steps you should take:

• Seek Medical Attention Immediately: Your health is the top priority.
• Save the Product: Store it safely without altering it.
• Gather Documentation: Receipts, packaging, warranties, manuals, and photographs are all valuable evidence.
• Take Photos of Your Injuries: Documenting your recovery can strengthen your case.
• Avoid Discussing the Case With Insurers: Insurance representatives may try to minimize your claim.
• Contact Our Product Liability Lawyers: The sooner you involve an attorney from Bye, Goff & Rohde, the better protected you will be.

In Wisconsin, product liability claims are generally subject to a three-year statute of limitations, which means you only have a limited window to file your case. Waiting too long could prevent you from recovering compensation.

Compensation in Product Liability Cases

Every case is unique, but injured consumers may be entitled to recover compensation for:

• Past and future medical bills
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Rehabilitation and therapy costs
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of companionship or consortium
• Possible wrongful death damages when a defective product claims a loved one’s life

Our goal is not only to secure financial compensation but also to provide a sense of justice and accountability for the harm you have endured.

Our Product Liability Lawyers Provide Compassionate Advocacy Backed by Strength

At Bye, Goff & Rohde, we believe that legal advocacy should never feel impersonal. When you walk through our doors, you will find a team that listens, cares, and truly understands what you are going through. Clients often tell us that we make them feel heard and supported because that is exactly what we set out to do.

However, make no mistake. When it comes to standing up to corporations and insurance companies, we are relentless. For our clients, we bring together skill, resources, and determination to pursue the best possible outcome. It is this balance of compassion and strength that has made us a trusted name in Wisconsin personal injury law for more than five decades.

Contact Our Product Liability Lawyers in Wisconsin

If a defective or dangerous product has injured you or a loved one, you deserve answers, support, and justice. You also deserve a legal team with the experience and commitment to see your case through to the end. At Bye, Goff & Rohde, you pay nothing unless we win. For a free case review from trusted defective product attorneys in Eau Claire, La Crosse, and River Falls, WI, contact our law firm today.