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California Product Liability Lawyer

When a product you trusted causes a serious injury, a California product liability lawyer can help you find answers and hold the right companies accountable. 

At Reiner & Frankel, LLP, we have stood beside injured people in Redding and across Northern California for more than 40 years. We hope you never need us, but if a defective product has harmed you or someone you love, we are here to listen.

Our firm has recovered more than $600 million for our clients, and we are known as trial lawyers who are ready to go to court when a fair resolution is not offered. Because our clients are our neighbors, every case we take is personal to us. If you have questions, we are here to answer them.

Call us today at (530) 241-0290 for a free, confidential case evaluation. There is no cost to speak with us, and what you share stays between us.

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How Can a California Product Liability Lawyer Help You?

A California product liability lawyer helps you prove that a product was unreasonably dangerous, connect that danger to your injury, and pursue compensation from the companies responsible. 

Product liability is the area of law that holds companies responsible when they put a dangerous product into people’s hands. In California, an injured person does not always have to prove that a company was careless. Under the state’s strict liability rules, you may have a valid claim simply because a product was defective and caused harm.

Working with a product liability attorney in California means you do not have to stand up to large companies and their insurers on your own. At Reiner & Frankel, LLP, we investigate how the product failed, gather the evidence, and bring in the engineers and safety professionals whose opinions local juries trust. 

After four decades in Northern California courtrooms, we know the people, the procedures, and what it takes to win.

Defective product cases also tend to be complex, and the companies on the other side often have deep pockets and seasoned legal teams. That is one reason we focus on cases where the harm is serious and the stakes are real. We bring the resolve and resources these cases demand, along with the skill to try them in front of a jury.

If you are unsure whether you have a case, the simplest first step is a phone call. We will listen, and we will tell you honestly what we think.

What Makes a Product Defective?

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A product is defective when it is unreasonably dangerous because of how it was designed, how it was made, or how it was sold without proper warnings. California law recognizes three main types of defects, and our team knows how to prove each one.

  • Design Defects: A design defect means a product was dangerous from the start, before it ever left the drawing board. Even when the product is built exactly to plan, a hidden risk remains. Common examples include a vehicle that rolls over too easily or a power tool sold with no safety guard.
  • Manufacturing Defects: A manufacturing defect happens when something goes wrong during production, so one item or a single batch turns out to be dangerous. The design may be perfectly safe, but a mistake on the assembly line created the hazard. A cracked bicycle frame or a contaminated medication can fall into this category.
  • Failure to Warn: A failure to warn, sometimes called a marketing defect, means a company did not tell you about a known risk or how to use a product safely. Clear instructions and honest labels matter, and the law expects companies to provide them. When a business stays quiet about a danger it already knew about, it can be held accountable.

Many injuries involve more than one of these problems at the same time. Part of our job is finding every angle that supports your claim, so nothing that could strengthen your case gets missed.

 

Call (855) 248-5659 for a free case evaluation

Who Can Be Held Accountable for a Defective Product?

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More than one company can be held accountable when a defective product causes injury, including the manufacturer, the parts supplier, the distributor, and sometimes the store that sold it. Part of our work is identifying every party that played a role, so there is a real source of recovery for you.

For a claim to succeed, three things generally need to line up. First, the product must have been defective. Second, there must be a real injury. Third, there must be a responsible party who can actually pay, which usually means a company backed by insurance.

We look closely at the entire chain that brought the product into your hands, from the factory floor to the shelf where you bought it. Federal agencies such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission track dangerous goods and issue recalls, and that public record can support your case. The earlier we begin, the easier it is to trace responsibility and preserve the proof.

In our experience, the company that built a product is not always the one most clearly at fault. Sometimes a faulty component from a separate supplier is the true cause, and other times a distributor altered or stored the product in a way that made it unsafe. We follow the facts wherever they lead, so the parties who caused your harm are the ones who answer for it.

If you are not sure who made or sold the product that hurt you, do not worry. Sorting that out is our job, not yours.

 

Call (855) 248-5659 for a free case evaluation

Types of Cases Our Attorneys for Defective Products Handle

Our attorneys for defective products handle a wide range of cases, from dangerous vehicles to faulty medical devices and unsafe consumer goods. If a product caused your injury, it is worth a conversation with us. We take on the kinds of cases that demand real resources and a willingness to go to trial.

No two cases are the same, and we treat each one with the care and attention it deserves. Tell us what happened, and we will help you understand your options.

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How a Defective Product Lawyer in California Builds Your Case

A defective product lawyer in California builds your case step by step, beginning with a careful look at what happened and ending with a strong demand for fair compensation. Here is how the process generally works when you come to our firm.

  1. Your first contact with our firm. You reach out by phone or online, and we listen to your story from beginning to end. There is no charge for this conversation, and nothing you tell us leaves our office.
  2. Our attorney contacts you. A lawyer from our firm, not a screener, speaks with you directly to learn the details and answer your early questions.
  3. We provide an initial assessment. We will be honest and candid about the strength of your case, because you deserve the truth from the start, even when it is hard to hear.
  4. We send a demand package to the parties at fault. We gather the evidence, document your losses, and present a clear, well-supported demand to the responsible companies and their insurers.

If a fair settlement is not offered, we are ready to take your case to court. Our willingness to try cases is well known, and it often encourages companies to settle on fair terms rather than face a Northern California jury.

Call (855) 248-5659 for a free case evaluation
Russell Reiner, Redding Car Accident Lawyer

Why Choose Reiner & Frankel, LLP?

Clients choose us because we pair the resources of a large firm with the local knowledge and personal care of neighbors who live and work where you do. For more than 40 years, we have taken on tough cases and won. 

Many out-of-area firms try to pull cases from Northern California, yet they do not know our courts, our communities, or what makes a case strong here. We do.

  • A trial-tested record. We have recovered more than $600 million for our clients and won some of the largest jury verdicts in Shasta County and Humboldt County history.
  • Local roots, national resources. We know the judges, the courtrooms near the Sundial Bridge, and the safety professionals our local juries respect.
  • Honest guidance. We tell you the truth about your case, so you can make decisions with confidence.
  • A community partner. We have given away child safety seats, bicycle helmets, and life vests to help keep our neighbors safe.

When you work with us, you get calm, competent, and aggressive representation focused on righting the wrong that was done to you. Call (530) 241-0290 for a free case evaluation, and let us show you what local experience can do.

Call (855) 248-5659 for a free case evaluation

FAQs Answered by Our California Product Liability Lawyers

Here are answers to some of the questions we hear most often from people dealing with a product injury in California.

How much does it cost to hire a California product liability lawyer?

We work on a contingency fee, which means you pay nothing up front and owe no attorney fees unless we recover money for you. Your first consultation is always free and confidential. This lets you get strong legal help without adding financial stress during an already difficult time.

What compensation can I recover in a product liability case?

Compensation often covers medical bills, lost income, future care, and the physical and emotional pain you have lived through. The goal is never about getting even. It is about securing the resources you need to heal and rebuild your life.

What should I do with the product that injured me?

If it is safe to do so, keep the product and avoid changing, cleaning, or repairing it, because it may be key evidence. Save your receipts, packaging, and any instructions that came with it. We can guide you on how to protect what matters most to your claim.

Can I file a claim if a defective product caused a death in my family?

Yes. When a defective product causes a wrongful death, close family members may be able to bring a claim for their losses. These cases are never about money. They are about justice and the support a grieving family needs to move forward.

Do I still have a case if the product was never recalled?

A recall can help support your claim, but you do not need one to have a strong case. Many dangerous products are never recalled at all. What matters most is whether the product was defective and whether that defect caused your injury.

How long do I have to file a product liability claim in California?

In most situations, California gives you two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, though some circumstances change that timeline. Because these deadlines can be strict, it is wise to speak with a lawyer soon. We can review your situation and explain the timeline that applies to you.

Will my product liability case go to trial?

Many cases settle, but we prepare every case as if it will be tried. Companies and insurers know our trial record, and that knowledge often leads to fair settlements. If a fair offer never comes, we are ready to stand up for you in the courtroom.

Talk With a California Product Liability Lawyer Today

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Russel Reiner, California Product Liability Lawyer

You did not choose to be hurt by a product you trusted, but you can choose who stands beside you now. At Reiner & Frankel, LLP, we offer personalized legal help for every kind of product injury, because no two cases are alike. Our team is committed to helping injured people in Northern California recover the full compensation they deserve.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation. We will discuss what happened, look closely at every detail, and help you reclaim what you have lost. Call (530) 241-0290 now, or reach out online to get started.

We hope you never need us, but if you do, we are ready to help.

I was in a terrible auto accident, but the attorneys at Reiner & Frankel were very caring and listened to what I had to say. They kept me updated on what I needed to do and what was happening. I always felt they were working their very best for me. They were very successful in my case.

~ Sandra P.

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