Los Angeles Product Liability Lawyer

Los Angeles Product Liability Lawyers for People Injured by Defective Products

Most people have no reason to question a product until it causes serious harm.

You buy a vehicle, use a medical device, or trust a product made for your child because it should meet basic safety standards. When that trust breaks, you are suddenly facing medical bills, missed work, and a company protecting its interests.

Our trusted Los Angeles personal injury lawyer team understands that product liability cases differ from ordinary injury claims because the evidence often sits with the companies that made and sold the product. Identifying what failed takes investigation and the resources to stand up to large manufacturers.

Easton & Easton has represented injured people and families across Southern California for more than 30 years, with more than 100 years of combined legal experience and more than $500 million recovered for clients. Founding partner W. Douglas Easton has also held Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent rating for more than 30 years.

If a dangerous product changed your life or took someone from your family, reach out to our Los Angeles product liability attorneys. We can review what happened and explain what options may be available.

The Products Most Commonly Involved in Los Angeles Product Liability Cases

Defective product claims arise in many different ways, but most involve a problem with the product’s design, a mistake during manufacturing, or missing instructions and warnings about known risks. Our firm handles cases involving:

• Vehicles, tires, airbags, seat belts, and automotive components
• Defective medical devices and dangerous pharmaceutical products
• Construction equipment, machinery, and power tools
• Children’s products, including car seats, cribs, and strollers
• Appliances with electrical, battery, or fire hazards
• Consumer products subject to recalls or safety warnings
• Industrial equipment used in workplaces throughout Los Angeles County

The product itself is only one part of the case. We also investigate the companies behind it, because responsibility can extend from the manufacturer to distributors, suppliers, and retailers.

The Difference Between a Product That Failed and a Product That Was Defective

Not every broken product leads to a legal claim. Some products wear out over time. Others fail because they were not maintained or were used in a way the manufacturer never intended. A product liability case is different: it involves a product that became dangerous despite being used in a normal or reasonably foreseeable manner.

A tire that suddenly separates after limited use, a medical device that fails inside the body, or an appliance that catches fire under ordinary conditions may point to a defect rather than routine wear. Understanding how California personal injury laws govern design and manufacturing flaws helps establish clear legal fault. Our investigation focuses on questions such as:

• How was the product supposed to work?
• What specifically went wrong?
• Were similar failures reported before?
• Did the manufacturer know about the danger?
• Could safer designs or warnings have prevented the injury?

Those answers often determine whether a claim exists and which companies should be held accountable.

Why Manufacturers and Their Insurers Fight These Claims So Hard

A defective product case can affect far more than one claim. When a manufacturer admits responsibility, it may face additional lawsuits from other consumers who suffered similar harm. Because of that risk, manufacturers and their insurers often begin investigating immediately and may challenge every part of a case, from how the product was used to whether the defect caused the injury.

California law gives injured consumers important protections. Under California’s strict liability rules, you do not need to prove a manufacturer acted carelessly. You must show that the product was defective and that the defect caused your injury. Responsibility may extend to every company involved in placing the product into the stream of commerce, including the manufacturer, the distributor, and the retailer.

California’s Two-Year Deadline to File a Product Liability Claim

Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, injured people typically have 2 years to file a product liability lawsuit. In some cases, including claims involving hidden injuries or defective medications, the discovery rule may affect when that period begins.

Because statutory time limits arrive quickly, knowing when to hire a personal injury attorney in California is crucial to ensure physical evidence is preserved. Preserving the product, obtaining records, and identifying the right defendants early can make a significant difference in a case. This reflects California law as of September 2026, and we review this page regularly to keep it current.

What Compensation Can Include in a Product Liability Case

A serious injury changes more than a medical chart. A fair recovery should account for what the injury has already cost and what it may continue to cost in the years ahead. Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include:

• Medical treatment and future care
• Lost wages and reduced earning ability
• Rehabilitation and therapy expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Wrongful death damages for surviving family members

Defective auto machinery, industrial tools, or dangerous consumer items can cause life-altering head trauma, making it essential to consult a Los Angeles traumatic brain injury attorney to calculate lifetime care requirements. Early settlement offers are often made before the long-term effects of an injury are fully understood. We work to evaluate the complete impact of an injury before discussing what a claim may be worth.

How Easton & Easton Builds Product Liability Cases

Product liability claims often depend on evidence that can disappear quickly. That is why preserving the product is often one of the first steps we take. We coordinate inspections, work with engineers and product safety experts, review recall information, and examine prior complaints involving the same product.

We also investigate every company involved in bringing the product to market, because responsibility does not always stop with the manufacturer.

If litigation becomes necessary, product liability lawsuits filed in Los Angeles County are commonly handled through the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. From the beginning, we prepare each case with trial in mind, because companies evaluate claims differently when they know a firm is ready to present evidence before a jury.

Contact a Los Angeles Product Liability Lawyer at Easton & Easton

When a defective product causes serious harm, answers do not always come quickly. Companies investigate their own exposure right away, but injured families are often left trying to understand what happened, who is responsible, and what comes next.

You do not have to sort through those questions on your own.

Contact Easton & Easton to schedule a consultation. We can review the product, investigate the companies involved, and explain the options available under California law. If there is a claim to pursue, we can begin preserving evidence before important information is lost.

Questions Injured Consumers Often Ask About Product Liability Claims in Los Angeles

Who can be held responsible when a product is defective?

Responsibility can extend to every company in the chain that brought the product to market. Depending on the case, that may include the manufacturer, a component supplier, a distributor, or the retailer that sold it.

We investigate each company separately, because more than one may share liability for the same defect.

Does a product have to be recalled before I can bring a claim?

No. A recall can support a claim by showing the manufacturer knew about a danger, but a formal recall is not required. Many defective products cause injuries long before, or even without, ever being recalled, and we can build a case around the defect itself.

What if I was partly responsible for how the product was used?

California allows recovery even when a consumer shares some responsibility for what happened, under a rule called comparative fault. Your compensation may be reduced by your share of responsibility, but a partial mistake on your part does not usually eliminate a manufacturer’s responsibility for a defective product.

Do I need to visit your office in person to work with your firm?

No. Easton & Easton is based in Costa Mesa and Laguna Beach, and we represent clients throughout Los Angeles County without requiring an office visit. We can meet by video, at your home, or wherever is easiest while you recover.

What does it cost to speak with your firm about a possible case?

Nothing. Consultations are free, and we only charge a fee if we recover compensation for you. There is no upfront cost to have your case reviewed.

Los Angeles, California Related Product Liability Resources:

• What Kind of Cases Do Personal Injury Lawyers Handle in California?
• Are Personal Injury Settlements Taxable in California?
• How Are Personal Injury Settlements Paid Out in California?

Los Angeles, California Product Liability Legal Resources

• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – Recalls & Product Safety Reporting
• FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program (MedWatch)
• Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles – Stanley Mosk Courthouse

About Los Angeles, California

The historic Griffith Observatory stands as a iconic public institution overlooking the expansive Los Angeles basin. However, widespread commercial activity, heavy traffic, and industrial production across the region expose residents to defective consumer goods, automotive component failures, and unsafe machinery. In response, regulatory bodies like the CPSC and California consumer protection agencies closely enforce safety compliance across local markets. These vital oversight initiatives work to eliminate dangerous products and safeguard public health throughout Los Angeles.