Product Liability Lawyer in California
When a defective or dangerous product injures you, the companies that made and sold it can be held responsible — often without you having to prove they were careless. We handle California product liability claims against manufacturers, distributors, and retailers so you can focus on recovering.
Injured by a defective product?
Start with a quick, confidential case review — about two minutes, no cost, no obligation.
What makes a product claim — the three kinds of defect
Product liability generally recognizes three kinds of defect. A design defect means the product was dangerous as designed, even if made perfectly. A manufacturing defect means something went wrong in making a particular unit, so it differs from the intended design. A failure to warn (or marketing defect) means the product lacked adequate warnings or instructions about a non-obvious danger. A product can be defective in more than one way, and identifying which applies shapes the case.
How we handle your California product liability claim
You focus on healing; we handle the rest. We preserve the product — the single most important piece of evidence — investigate the defect, identify every company in the chain that made or sold it, and arrange expert analysis. In many product cases you do not have to prove the company was negligent, only that the product was defective and caused your injury. Every product liability matter starts with a free, confidential review. Se habla español.
Why work with Woods Law Group
Product cases are complex and expensive — they take engineering and expert analysis, and manufacturers defend them with substantial resources. Having your own attorney levels the field. We take these cases on a contingency basis for clients we represent, which means no fee unless we recover, and we advance the costs. You get straight answers, real communication, and a firm that treats your recovery as the priority.
How much is my product liability case worth? →
Common product liability cases we handle in California
- Design Defect
- Manufacturing Defect
- Failure To Warn
- Who Is Liable
- Defective Auto Parts
- Defective Medical Devices
- Dangerous Drugs
- Childrens Product Injuries
- Product Recalls
- Settlement Value
Dealing with the insurance company
California deadlines and fault rules
California is a strict-liability state for defective products, meaning a manufacturer can be responsible for injuries caused by a defect even without proof that it was careless. California uses established tests to decide whether a design was defective, and everyone in the chain of distribution — manufacturer, distributor, and retailer — can be liable. The deadline to file is generally two years, though for a latent defect it may run from when the injury or its cause was discovered.
- Filing deadlines (statute of limitations)
- Comparative fault in California
- Claims against a government agency
- Evidence that builds your claim
California injury law: deadlines, fault and caps
California injury law shapes your case in a few specific ways worth knowing early.
- Filing deadline: You generally have two years from the date of the injury to file — and only about six months to put a government entity on notice before you can sue.
- Fault: California follows pure comparative negligence, so you can still recover even if you were partly — or mostly — at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share of the blame.
- Damage caps: An ordinary California injury case has no cap on damages; medical-malpractice claims are the main exception.
- Uninsured drivers: California sets minimum auto-insurance limits and uninsured/underinsured-motorist rules that affect what coverage is available.
Free tools and guides
- Product liability FAQs
- Free downloadable guides
- Checklists
- Calculators & estimators
- Side-by-side comparisons
- Questions & answers
- Articles & explainers
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a product liability claim in California?
Deadlines vary by state, and product cases can involve an extra trap — a statute of repose that can bar a claim a set number of years after the product was sold, separate from the ordinary deadline. Because a missed deadline can end a claim, get a review right away.
Do I have to prove the company was careless?
Often no. In a strict-liability product case, you generally have to prove the product was defective and that the defect caused your injury — not that the company was negligent. That is a key difference from many other injury claims.
What should I do with the product that hurt me?
Keep it, and do not repair, alter, or throw it away. The product itself is usually the most important evidence, and preserving it exactly as it was — along with the packaging, manuals, and receipt — protects your claim.
How much does a product liability lawyer cost?
We handle product liability claims on a contingency basis for cases we take, which means no fee unless we recover, and the initial review is always free. These cases are expensive, and we advance the costs. Cost should never stop you from finding out where you stand.
Ready to find out where you stand?
The case review takes about two minutes. It's free and confidential, with no obligation.
More product liability types
Types of products
- Defective Appliances
- Machinery Industrial Injuries
- Defective Vehicles Crashworthiness
- Toxic Chemical Products