Product liability cases involve the sale or use of defective or dangerous products. California has strict laws governing product liability and the responsibilities of manufacturers, distributors, and sellers. According to data from the California Department of Justice, there were over 4,000 product liability cases filed in California in 2020 (California Department of Justice, 2020). These cases involved a wide range of products, including consumer goods, medical devices, and automotive parts (California Department of Justice, 2020). Common causes of product liability cases in California include defective design, manufacturing defects, and failure to warn (California Department of Justice, 2020). This article will provide an overview of product liability cases in California and the legal options available to injured consumers.
California Civil Code Section 1714(a) imposes strict liability on manufacturers, distributors, and sellers for injuries caused by defective or dangerous products. This means that if a consumer is injured by a product in California, the responsible parties may be held liable for the consumer’s injuries, regardless of whether they were negligent or acted with intent. In addition to strict liability, California law also allows consumers to bring claims for breach of warranty and negligence in some cases. It is important for consumers to be aware of their rights and the legal protections available to them in the event of an injury caused by a defective or dangerous product.
According to data from the California Department of Justice, there were 4,212 product liability cases filed in California in 2020 (California Department of Justice, 2020). These cases involved a wide range of products, including consumer goods, medical devices, and automotive parts (California Department of Justice, 2020). Common causes of product liability cases in California include defective design, manufacturing defects, and failure to warn (California Department of Justice, 2020).
Defective design cases accounted for the largest percentage of product liability cases in California, with 42.7% of all cases involving defective design (California Department of Justice, 2020). Manufacturing defects accounted for 36.5% of all cases, and failure to warn accounted for 20.8% (California Department of Justice, 2020). It is the responsibility of manufacturers, distributors, and sellers to ensure that their products are safe and do not pose a risk of injury to consumers. If a consumer is injured by a defective or dangerous product in California, the responsible parties may be held liable for the consumer’s injuries, regardless of whether they were negligent or acted with intent, as required by California Civil Code Section 1714(a).
If you have been injured by a defective or dangerous product in California, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. To file a product liability case, you will need to gather evidence of the defect and your injuries, and file a complaint with the court. The legal process for a product liability case can be complex and may involve multiple parties, including the manufacturer, distributor, and seller of the product.
It is important to act quickly to protect your rights and to preserve evidence in a product liability case. In California, the statute of limitations for product liability cases is generally two years from the date of injury (California Code of Civil Procedure Section 340.2). This means that you must file your claim within two years of the date of your injury or you may be barred from recovering damages.
If you are unsure about your rights or the legal process for filing a product liability case in California, it is recommended that you seek the assistance of a qualified personal injury attorney. An attorney can help you to gather evidence, navigate the legal process, and protect your rights.