$10.0M
Personal Injury
California Product Liability Lawyer
Hurt by a product that should have been safe? At Wilshire Law Firm — an award-winning, nationally recognized team — our attorneys help injured Californians hold manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable for defective and dangerous products. Contact us 24/7 for a free case review with a legal professional — there are no fees unless you get paid.
- $3B+RECOVERED
- 7X"BEST LAW FIRM" AWARDS
- 24/7AVAILABILITY & SUPPORT
- 500+LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
Understanding Your Product Liability Case
Explore essential resources on your rights, your options, and what to expect — everything you need to navigate the legal process, all in one place.
Product liability is the legal responsibility manufacturers, distributors, and retailers hold when a defective or dangerous product injures someone. In California, claims generally fall into three categories: design defects (an unsafe flaw built into the product itself), manufacturing defects (an error introduced during production), and failure to warn (inadequate instructions or missing safety warnings). California applies strict liability in many product cases, which means you may not need to prove negligence — only that the product was defective and caused your injury.
Defective products can cause severe, life-altering injuries. The injuries our clients most commonly suffer include burns, electrocution, broken bones and fractures, head and traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and in the most tragic cases, fatal accidents. Because these injuries often require long-term care, a legal professional can help you pursue full compensation during a free case review.
Injured consumers in California can generally recover both economic and non-economic damages. These commonly include medical expenses (current and future), lost wages and lost earning capacity, costs of ongoing care and rehabilitation, and pain and suffering. Because every case is unique, a legal professional can review your specific losses during a free case review.
Wilshire Law Firm is an award-winning, nationally recognized team that investigates how a product failed, identifies every responsible party in the supply chain, explains your rights under California law, and builds your case for maximum recovery. Our attorneys handle the insurers and manufacturers so you can focus on healing. There are no fees unless you get paid.
In most California product liability cases you have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). If a defective product causes a death, a wrongful death claim also generally carries a two-year deadline. Because certain circumstances can shorten or extend these deadlines, it's best to speak with a legal professional early.
Meet Our Product Liability Attorneys
Nationally-Recognized Powerhouse, Fighting for the Justice You Deserve
Our award-winning attorneys have recovered billions for clients while taking on insurance companies and major corporations.
Colin M. Jones, Esq.Senior Partner and Senior Trial Attorney, Chair of the Personal Injury Litigation Department
Jennifer P. Burkes, Esq.Senior Partner & Strategic Advisor, Personal Injury Litigation Department
Mary Lee Caruso, Esq.Senior Partner
Ryan Casey, Esq.Senior Partner and Trial Attorney
Tae-Yoon Kim, Esq.Senior Partner
Alivia E. Abreu, Esq.Partner
Shervin G. Ghanoongooi, Esq.Partner
Christopher Goodroe, Esq.Partner
Nathan A. GuestPartner and Trial Attorney
Brian M. Jacobson, Esq.Partner
Ariella Perry, Esq.Partner$0.3M
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Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and evaluated on its own facts.
How Do I Know If I Have a Product Liability Claim in California?
You likely have a product liability claim if a defective product caused your injury and you can connect that defect to your harm. Three elements generally determine a valid claim — a defect, an injury, and a link between them. The defect may be in the product's design, its manufacturing, or its warnings. The injury is the harm you suffered, such as burns, fractures, or a brain injury. The link means the defect — not misuse — caused your losses. California's statute of limitations applies, so contact Wilshire Law Firm for a free case review.
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Record breaking results
Winners of #1 Settlements in California
Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars, including some of the biggest settlements in California.
17#1 Settlements in California, 2022–2024*
TopVerdict #1TopVerdict.com #1 settlements
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#1 Truck v. Pedestrian Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Equipment Malfunction Settlement
2024
#1 Car v. Stationary Object Collision Settlement
2024
#1 Bus v. Passenger Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Whistleblower Retaliation Settlement
2023
#1 Underinsured Motorist Settlement
2023
#1 Slip & Fall Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Negligent Security Settlement
2023
#1 Ladder Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Hotel Premises Liability Settlement
2023
#1 Car v. Car Collision Settlement
2023
#1 Bicycle Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Pregnancy Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Age/Disability Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Wrongful Termination Settlement
2022
#1 Meal & Rest Breaks Settlement
2022
*#1 settlements in California have been awarded by TopVerdict.com. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Product Liability FAQs
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
We've answered the most common ones below. If yours isn't here, call us — we're available 24/7.
Usually no. California applies strict product liability, so you can generally recover by showing the product had a defect that caused your injury while it was being used in a reasonably foreseeable way. You do not have to prove the maker was careless. This makes product cases different from ordinary negligence claims.
California recognizes design defects (the product is unsafe as designed, even when built correctly), manufacturing defects (an error made this item different from the intended design), and warning defects (the product lacked adequate instructions or warnings about a non-obvious danger). Your claim may involve one or more of these.
Generally, any business in the product's chain of distribution can be responsible, including the manufacturer, component makers, distributors, wholesalers, and the retailer that sold it. Naming multiple parties can matter, especially if one is out of business or hard to reach. An attorney can identify everyone potentially liable.
You generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the defect or its link to your injury was not obvious right away, the discovery rule may affect when the clock starts. Deadlines have exceptions, so confirm yours promptly.