If you were injured because of an unsafe consumer product in El Segundo, California, it’s important to consult an experienced attorney. Our team at J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help you hold the manufacturer accountable. Call (323) 284-2834 today for a free consultation with an experienced El Segundo product liability lawyer.
Our lawyers have over 20 years of experience in personal injury law. We have a strong track record of securing top-dollar results for our clients, and we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars to date.
Why Should I Trust J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers to Handle My Product Liability Claim in El Segundo, CA?
Manufacturing companies are represented by powerful insurance and defense teams. They’ll do whatever it takes to downplay the losses you’ve suffered. You deserve to have a powerful advocate in your corner.
You can count on our team at J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers to support you at every turn.
Our El Segundo personal injury lawyers have been recognized for securing top results, including one of the Top 100 jury verdicts in Los Angeles County. Our team has also earned recognition from both the Million Dollar Advocates’ Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates’ Forum.
We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured clients and their families, we prepare every case as though it’s going to trial, and we know exactly how the insurance company operates.
Our El Segundo product liability attorneys know how to get the top financial results you deserve. Call us today to learn more about our team and how we can help you.
Overview of the Product Liability Laws in California
Hundreds of millions of consumer products are sold each year. It’s virtually impossible for you to verify whether any given product is safe to use. Even federal government agencies are unable to concretely guarantee any product’s safety.
The law places those responsibilities squarely on the shoulders of the companies that stand to profit from their sale.
Product liability cases are governed by strict liability laws. Product manufacturers can be responsible for injuries even if you have no proof that they were negligent.
How Much Is My El Segundo Product Liability Case Worth?
Each defective product case is unique. The amount you take home depends heavily on how severely you were injured.
Primary factors that will influence the value of your personal injury claim include:
- Whether your injuries are permanent or temporary
- The length of your anticipated recovery period
- The nature of your injuries themselves
- Your current medical expenses
- The nature of your medical treatment
- Your need for ongoing medical care and rehabilitation
- How the injury has impacted your earnings
- How the injury has changed your lifestyle and damaged your quality of life
- The ways you and your family have suffered
- Whether multiple parties were harmed, potentially creating a class action lawsuit or multi-district litigation rights
Consulting a respected law firm is the best way to get a sense of your case value. One thing is certain: you don’t want to rely on the insurance company’s calculations. Our attorneys will evaluate the facts, bring in experts, and work closely with you to accurately calculate your case value.
What Types of Damages Are Available in a Successful Product Liability Case in El Segundo?
If you were injured by a defective product, you have the opportunity to pursue compensation for economic and non-economic losses. Each category of damages serves a different purpose.
Economic damages are designed to cover financial losses, including:
- Medical expenses
- Anticipated future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity
- Physical therapy
- Skilled nursing care
- Property damage
- Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages help you deal with the pain and trauma of being an injury victim, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional and mental trauma
- Ongoing mental health issues, including depression and PTSD
- Reduced quality of life
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Chronic pain
- Embarrassment and humiliation
- Loss of consortium
Our attorneys will also pursue punitive damages when appropriate. Punitive damages are relatively rare. In California, they’re meant to punish a defendant for particularly bad behavior. They’re also meant to deter others from committing similar wrongful acts.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Handle a Product Liability Case in California?
Our product liability lawyers take cases on a contingency fee basis. Instead of paying upfront, we deduct our fees from your final compensation award. You only pay in the end, once your case is resolved.
You never pay unless we recover compensation. That way, you can always afford quality legal representation.
Can Shared Fault Impact the Value of a Product Liability Claim in California?
A pure comparative negligence law applies in California. When a victim shares some fault for their injuries, they don’t lose their right to damages entirely. Instead, your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault.
Is the manufacturer claiming that you weren’t using the product properly? Even if you were, you may still have rights. Manufacturers are responsible when consumers misuse products, but in a way that’s reasonably foreseeable.
Our Attorneys in El Segundo Handle All Types of Product Liability Cases
Our attorneys at J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers fight for clients who have been injured by all types of products, including:
- Household appliances
- Personal care products
- Household chemicals and cleaning products
- Mattresses and furniture
- Sports equipment
- Exercise equipment
- Batteries
- Electronics
- Power tools
- Construction equipment and heavy machinery
- Pesticides
- Prescription drugs
- Medical devices
- Over-the-counter drugs
- Vehicles and vehicle components
- Children’s products, including toys, furniture, and car seats
If you were injured while using a consumer product, reach out to our legal team. An experienced El Segundo product liability attorney can help you understand your rights and options. Your consultation is entirely free of charge, so there’s no reason to change.
What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Compensation Based on Product Liability in California?
To recover compensation in a product liability case, your attorney must prove:
- The product suffered from a defect
- The defendant was responsible for putting the product on the market
- You were injured by the product
- You were using the product as instructed, or in a reasonably foreseeable way
- You sustained identifiable damages
You don’t have to prove the defendant acted carelessly or recklessly. However, that evidence can be relevant–and our attorneys will conduct a full investigation so that we can understand what happened.
What Are the Three Primary Types of Product Liability Claims?
Product liability lawsuits can be based on different legal theories–including negligence or breach of warranty.
Most cases involve one of three product defects:
Defective Design
Products with design defects are dangerous because of how they’re designed. It doesn’t matter how careful the manufacturer is during the assembly process. The product will be unreasonably dangerous when assembled or created precisely according to plan.
Manufacturing Defects
Manufacturing defects often exist only because of a mistake. The danger only exists because the manufacturer deviated from the product’s design. Manufacturing defects can impact many products or only a single product.
Marketing Defects and Failure to Warn
Companies are legally liable when their defective products injure consumers. It’s not surprising that they conduct testing prior to selling their products.
When they discover potential risks, they have to warn you about them. Companies that fail to provide adequate instructions and warnings can be liable for failure to warn.
What Are the Most Common Injuries Caused By Defective Products?
Defective products can cause a range of injuries, from mild to incredibly severe.
We represent clients with all types of injuries, including:
- Burns
- Facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Paralysis
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Concussions
- Hearing damage
- Vision loss
- Cancer and other diseases
- Orthopedic and joint injuries
Unfortunately, the most severe cases can result in catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.
How Long Do I Have to File a Product Liability Lawsuit After Suffering an Injury in California?
Most cases are governed by a two-year statute of limitations in California. You must file your lawsuit within two years of the injury.
Some defective products cause harm that isn’t immediately obvious. In these cases, you have two years from the date you discover, or reasonably should have discovered, that harm.
Call a Skilled El Segundo Product Liability Lawyer for a Free Case Review Today
J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers is a top-rated personal injury law firm in El Segundo. We have the tools to handle even the most complex product liability claim. If you were injured because of an unsafe consumer product, call an El Segundo product liability attorney for a free consultation today.