Defective products can be found in every corner of our lives, from the vehicles we drive to the items in our homes. At Reiner & Frankel, LLP, we have seen the serious consequences that result when consumer trust is broken.
Defective Vehicles and Auto Parts
The roads and highways in and around Redding and Chico, including the busy Interstate 5 corridor, see thousands of vehicles every day. A single defective part can lead to a catastrophic accident. Common cases involve:
- Tire blowouts caused by tread separation
- Faulty braking systems
- Airbags that fail to deploy or deploy improperly
- Defective ignition switches or fuel systems
- Structural defects that compromise a vehicle’s crashworthiness
Dangerous Consumer Products
Items we use every day in our homes can harbor hidden dangers. We handle cases involving a wide range of consumer goods, such as:
- Kitchen appliances that cause fires or electrocution
- Children’s toys and furniture that are unsafe
- Defective power tools or yard equipment
- Contaminated food or beverages
- E-cigarettes and vaping devices that explode
Faulty Medical Devices
When a device intended to improve health causes further harm, the breach of trust is profound. While distinct from medical malpractice, which focuses on a doctor’s actions, a product liability claim can arise from devices like:
- Defective hip or knee implants
- Malfunctioning pacemakers or defibrillators
- Unsafe surgical tools or mesh
- Faulty insulin pumps
Defective Industrial and Agricultural Equipment
In our region, many people work in industries that rely on heavy machinery. A defect in this equipment can lead to life-altering injuries. This can include flawed designs in tractors, combines, forklifts, or factory machinery that lacks proper safety guards.
We hope you never need our services. But if a catastrophic injury has happened, our firm is here to provide calm, competent, and aggressive representation to help right the wrong. We believe in being open and honest about the legal process. While every case is unique, our approach generally involves several key stages.
Your Initial Conversation with Our Firm
Your first contact with us is a confidential conversation, free of charge. We will listen to your story with compassion and ask questions to understand what happened. This is an opportunity for you to learn about our firm and for us to provide an initial perspective on your situation.
A Thorough Investigation and Assessment
If we believe you may have a valid claim, our team begins a detailed investigation. An experienced product liability lawyer from our firm will work to preserve the defective product, gather documents, interview witnesses, and consult with highly qualified professionals in engineering, medicine, and other fields. We leverage our local network of experts whom Northern California juries know and trust to build the strongest possible case.
Building a Demand for Fair Compensation
Once we have a clear picture of liability, we meticulously calculate the full extent of your damages. This includes not just current medical bills but also the cost of future care, lost income, diminished earning potential, and the physical and emotional pain you have experienced. We then present a comprehensive demand package to the responsible companies and their insurance carriers.
Prepared for Trial from Day One
Many law firms aim to settle cases quickly. We are trial lawyers. While most cases do settle, we believe the best settlements are achieved because the other side knows we are fully prepared to go to court. Our reputation for seeing a case through to a jury verdict—and winning—is a powerful tool in negotiations. If a fair offer is not made, we have the resources and the resolve to present your case to a jury.
The goal of a product liability lawsuit is to secure financial compensation, or “damages,” to help an injured person become whole again. While no amount of money can undo a serious injury, it can provide the financial stability needed to move forward.
Compensation is typically divided into two main categories:
- Economic Damages: These are for verifiable financial losses with a clear monetary value. This includes past and future medical bills, lost wages from time away from work, loss of future earning capacity if you cannot return to your previous job, and the cost of repairing or replacing damaged property.
- Non-Economic Damages: These compensate for intangible losses that do not have a specific price tag but are just as real. This includes physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and loss of companionship for a spouse.
In rare cases where a company acted with malice, oppression, or fraud, a court may also award punitive damages. These are intended not to compensate the victim but to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.
An experienced lawyer can help evaluate all potential damages in your case to ensure you seek the full compensation you are rightfully owed.
Here are answers to some common questions we receive about product liability claims.
How long do I have to file a product liability claim in California?
In California, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including those for product liability, is generally two years from the date of the injury. There are some exceptions, so it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible to protect your right to file a claim.
What should I do with the defective product after an injury?
If it is safe to do so, preserve the product in the exact condition it was in at the time of the incident. Do not try to repair it, alter it, or throw it away. The product itself is the most important piece of evidence in a potential case. Also, keep any packaging, instructions, and receipts associated with it.
Can I still have a case if I was not using the product exactly as intended?
You might. California follows a rule of “pure comparative negligence.” This means if the court finds you were partially at fault for your own injury (for example, by misusing a product in a foreseeable way), your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, it does not necessarily prevent you from recovering damages.
What if I was injured by a defective product at work?
While you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits from your employer, you might also have a separate product liability claim against the manufacturer of the faulty machine or tool. This is known as a third-party claim and can allow you to recover damages not available through workers’ comp, such as pain and suffering.
How much does it cost to hire a California product liability lawyer?
Reiner & Frankel, LLP handles product liability cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront fees. We only collect a fee if and when we successfully recover compensation for you, either through a settlement or a jury verdict.
When you are facing the resources of a large corporation, you need a law firm with the resolve and experience to stand with you. Reiner & Frankel, LLP brings a national reputation for success right here to our home in Northern California. For over four decades, our trial attorneys have secured 
Product liability is the area of law concerning the legal responsibility of manufacturers, distributors, and sellers for injuries caused by faulty or dangerous products. In California, these cases often operate under a legal doctrine known as “strict liability.”
