Practice Area
Product Liability Lawyers in California
When a defective product causes injury, California law does not make you prove the manufacturer was careless — only that the product was defective and that it hurt you. We build those cases against companies that put profit ahead of safety.
- FeeNo fee unless we win
- First conversationFree and confidential
- LanguageSe habla español
Overview
How these claims work.
California is one of the strongest strict-liability states in the country. A product can be defective in its design, in the way it was manufactured, or because it lacked adequate warnings or instructions. Any company in the chain of distribution — the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer — can be held responsible.
These cases often require technical analysis: how the product was designed, what safer alternatives existed, and what the maker knew. We preserve the product itself, work with the right experts, and connect the defect to the specific harm it caused.
What We Handle
Defective products we handle
- Auto and tire defects
- Defective machinery and power tools
- Dangerous consumer and household products
- Robotics and automated equipment
- Defective medical devices
- Unsafe children’s products
- Inadequate safety warnings and instructions
California Law
What you should know.
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Strict liability in California
Under the rule established in Greenman v. Yuba Power Products, an injured person does not have to prove negligence — only that the product had a defect that caused the injury while it was being used as intended or in a reasonably foreseeable way.
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Preserve the product
The defective product is the central evidence. Do not discard, repair, or return it if you can avoid it. Keeping it intact allows experts to examine the defect and is often decisive.
General information, not legal advice. Deadlines and rules depend on the facts of your case, so talk to a lawyer about yours. Read our FAQ.
How We Help
What Reardon Stodolka brings to your case.
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We read the medicine, not just the file
The firm was built around reading treatment records the way clinicians do — connecting the mechanism of your injury to the diagnosis, the prognosis, and the long-term cost. That is what stops an insurer from dismissing a serious injury as minor.
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California is the whole practice
Deadlines, comparative-fault rules, and the insurers and courts you will face are all California-specific. The work is built around how injury claims actually move here, from the first claim letter to trial if it comes to that.
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No fee unless we win
You pay nothing up front and nothing unless we recover for you. The first conversation is free and focused on giving you a clear, honest read on your claim.
Do I have to prove the company was negligent?
Not for a strict liability claim. You must show the product was defective and that the defect caused your injury during a foreseeable use — not that the manufacturer failed to take some specific precaution.
Who can be held responsible for a defective product?
Any business in the chain of distribution — manufacturer, distributor, and retailer — can be liable in California. That broad reach helps ensure there is coverage for your injuries.
I threw the product away. Do I still have a case?
Possibly, but it is harder. Preserving the product is important. Contact us anyway — photos, receipts, model information, and medical records can still support a claim.
Free Case Review
Ready to talk about your case?
Share what happened and the questions weighing on you. The first conversation is free, confidential, and focused on clarity — with no fee unless we win.