A defective product is a product—a car, an appliance, a toy, etc.—that causes injury because it does not function the way that it is intended to. A product can be defective for two reasons: Defective Design or Defective Manufacturing. 

An example of “Defective Design” is the Ford Pinto—the car was designed so that the gas tank would explode in rear-end collisions.

Other examples of Design Defects include: Defective medical products, Defective pharmaceuticals (drugs), Automobile tires that blow out, Power tools and lawnmowers with no blade protection, SUVs that flip over because the center of gravity is too high, Kitchen appliances that don’t hold up against heat, Helmets made out of flimsy material (like plastic).

“Manufacturing Defects” can be seen through an airplane that crashes or a television screen that explodes; these are generally the result of manufacturing defects.  

More examples of Manufacturing Defects include: Glass or bacteria in packaged food, Batteries that leak and cause caustic burns, Improperly assembled cars or boats, Above-ground swimming pools that collapse, Electrical devices that short-circuit or catch fire.

HOW I CAN HELP YOU:
If you have been injured by a product in your home or someone else’s, a lawyer can help you figure out if the product was manufactured improperly. If it was, you may be entitled to compensation.

IS THERE A TIME LIMIT FOR FILING MY CLAIM?

YES! This time limit, called the statute of limitations, will depend on the specific circumstances of your claim—the state in which the accident occurred, how it happened, who is involved, and other factors. Claims against most governmental entities in California must be filed with the correct agency within 6 months of the date of loss. This is why you must immediately contact an attorney when you feel that you have been injured by someone else’s actions. Your attorney will be able to determine the statute of limitations for your case and whether there is still time to make a claim.