Orange County Product Liability Lawyer
Were you injured by a defective or dangerous product in Orange County, California? An Orange County product liability lawyer at Fielding Law can explain your rights and help you determine whether a manufacturer, distributor, seller, or another party may be responsible. Contact our firm at 833.88.SHARK to schedule a free consultation.
Product liability cases can involve complex technical evidence and several responsible parties. Our legal team can investigate what happened and help you understand your options.
Why Choose Fielding Law and an Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer After a Defective Product Injury?
Fielding Law is a boutique personal injury law firm that focuses on providing thoughtful, client-centered representation. When a defective product causes an injury, you may be facing medical treatment, missed work, and questions about who is responsible. Our Orange County product liability attorneys provide clear and accessible legal support during that process.
Our team has 33 years of combined experience and has recovered $98 million for past clients. Past results do not guarantee a particular outcome, but they reflect the preparation and care we bring to our work in Orange County, CA.
An Orange County personal injury lawyer at our firm will take time to understand your circumstances, explain complicated legal issues in plain English, and remain available when questions arise. We believe injured people deserve ethical, capable representation without pressure or unnecessary confusion. Call our office to schedule a free consultation.
What Is Product Liability in California?
Product liability refers to legal claims arising when a defective product causes an injury. California law recognizes several theories that may allow an injured person to hold a manufacturer, distributor, seller, or other party responsible.
A product liability case may involve strict liability, negligence, or both. Under strict liability, a person does not necessarily have to prove that a manufacturer acted carelessly. Instead, the focus may be on whether the product was defective and whether that defect was a substantial factor in causing the injury.
California recognizes product liability claims involving manufacturing defects, design defects, and inadequate warnings. The specific elements depend on the type of defect and the facts of the case.
An injured person generally must still connect the defective product to the harm suffered. Simply being injured while using a product does not automatically establish liability.
What Are the Main Types of Product Defects?
A defective product claim may arise in several different ways. Identifying the type of defect can help determine what evidence is needed and which parties may be responsible.
Common product defects include:
- Manufacturing defects: A manufacturing defect occurs when a particular product differs from its intended design or from otherwise identical products in the same line.
- Design defects: A product may have a defective design even when it was manufactured exactly as intended. California recognizes different tests for evaluating whether a design is defective.
- Failure-to-warn defects: A product may be defective because it lacks adequate warnings or instructions about risks associated with its reasonably foreseeable use.
For design defects, California may consider whether a product performed as safely as an ordinary consumer would expect or whether the benefits of the design outweigh its risks. Which test applies depends on the circumstances.
Failure-to-warn claims can also be based on strict liability or negligence. The legal standards differ depending on the theory being used.
What Is My Orange County Product Liability Case Worth?
There is no standard value for a defective product claim. The amount that may be recovered depends on the nature of the injury, the strength of the evidence, and how the injury affects the person’s life.
Factors that may influence a claim include:
- The type and severity of the injury
- The extent of past medical treatment
- Whether future care is necessary
- Whether the victim lost income due to their injury
- Any effects of the injury on the victim’s future earning capacity
- The length of the recovery
- Whether the injury causes permanent limitations
- The strength of the evidence connecting the product to the injury
- Whether several parties share responsibility, including the victim
- The available insurance or other sources of compensation
A serious product injury may create expenses that continue for years. Before accepting a settlement, it is important to understand whether future medical treatment, rehabilitation, or reduced earning ability may affect the claim.
An Orange County personal injury attorney can review the evidence and help document both present and reasonably expected future losses.
What Damages Are Available in an Orange County Product Liability Claim?
A person harmed by a defective product may be able to seek compensatory damages for financial losses and the personal effects of the injury.
Economic damages cover your monetary losses, which may include:
- Emergency medical care
- Hospital and surgical bills
- Diagnostic testing
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- In-home assistance
- Property damage
- Other injury-related expenses
Bills, medical records, wage statements, receipts, and professional opinions may help establish these losses.
Non-economic damages cover more subjective losses, which may include:
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Emotional distress
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Changes in personal relationships
- Loss of companionship
These losses do not have fixed values. Their worth may depend on the severity and duration of the injury and how it affects the person’s independence, work, relationships, and daily activities.
Can I Recover Compensation if I Am Partly at Fault in California?
It is possible because California follows a pure comparative fault rule. An injured person may still recover compensation even when that person contributed to an accident or injury, but the recovery can be reduced according to the percentage of fault assigned.
For example, if a person has $100,000 in damages but is found 20% responsible, the recovery may be reduced to $80,000.
Comparative fault can arise in product liability cases when a defendant claims that the injured person misused, altered, or handled the product in an unsafe way. An accusation of product misuse does not automatically establish fault. The evidence must be reviewed to determine how the product was used and whether that use was reasonably foreseeable.
Common Product Liability Injuries in Orange County, CA
Defective products can cause a wide range of injuries. The type of harm often depends on the product, the defect, and the circumstances in which the product failed.
Common injuries include:
- Burns
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Deep cuts and lacerations
- Nerve damage
- Internal organ injuries
- Crush injuries
- Eye injuries
- Hearing damage
- Amputations
- Chemical injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Electrical injuries
Some injuries may not be immediately apparent. Exposure to a harmful substance or damage caused by a defective medical or consumer product may produce symptoms later.
Prompt medical care can protect your health and create records documenting the nature and timing of your injuries.
How Long Do I Have to File a Product Liability Lawsuit in California?
California generally gives a person two years to file a lawsuit for personal injury caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another. Missing the applicable deadline can prevent the injured person from seeking compensation through the courts.
Different rules may apply depending on the facts, including when an injury or its cause was discovered. Product liability cases can also raise additional timing issues depending on the type of product and legal theory involved.
It is safer not to assume that the standard two-year period applies to every situation. Starting early also gives an attorney more time to preserve the product, obtain records, identify potential defendants, and consult qualified experts before evidence becomes unavailable.
Contact an Orange County Product Liability Lawyer at Fielding Law for a Free Consultation
An injury caused by a defective product can create medical, financial, and practical challenges. Understanding why the product failed and who may be responsible can help you make informed decisions about your next steps.
Fielding Law is a boutique personal injury law firm that provides compassionate, client-focused legal guidance. Our attorneys emphasize ethical representation, personal attention, and clear communication throughout each case.
Contact our Orange County product liability lawyers to schedule a free consultation. Our legal team can listen to your concerns, review the circumstances surrounding the injury, and explain the options that may be available.