This page was written and reviewed by Michael J. Cefali, Esq. Attorney Cefali is a founding partner of Cefali & Cefali, APC, based in San Juan Capistrano, CA. He holds a Juris Doctor from Chapman University Fowler School of Law and a B.A. in Global Studies & Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy. Widely recognized for his advocacy in personal injury law, he has secured multi-hundred-thousand-dollar settlements in motorcycle accidents, hit-and-runs, and red-light collision cases. He maintains a perfect 10.0 “Superb” rating on Avvo.
Beyond his legal practice, Mr. Cefali actively supports his community through the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributes to housing and meal programs for those in need, and enjoys fishing and spending time with his rescue dogs.
The date below reflects when this page was last reviewed for accuracy. Please see our Editorial Guidelines.
If a defective product injured you or a family member in Hemet, California law lets you hold the manufacturer and the companies that sold it responsible, often without proving anyone was careless. A Hemet defective products attorney can preserve the product, identify every company in the chain of distribution, and pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Cefali & Cefali represents injured people in Hemet and the San Jacinto Valley from our office at 211 N. State Street, Suite 111, Hemet. Call (949) 325-7790 for a free consultation. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
California Product Liability Law: Strict Liability
California was the first state to adopt strict product liability. In Greenman v. Yuba Power Products (1963), the California Supreme Court held that a manufacturer is liable when it places a product on the market knowing it will be used without inspection, and a defect in that product injures someone. The injured person does not have to prove the manufacturer was negligent, only that the product was defective and the defect caused the injury.
Strict liability reaches beyond the manufacturer. Distributors, wholesalers, and retailers that sold the product can also be held responsible, which matters when the manufacturer is overseas or out of business. Claims can also be based on negligence and on breach of warranty, and we often bring all three together.
The Three Types of Product Defects
Manufacturing Defects
A manufacturing defect happens when a product differs from its intended design because something went wrong in production, such as a cracked weld, a contaminated batch, or a missing safety part. Usually only some units are affected.
Design Defects
A design defect affects every unit because the design itself is unsafe. Under Barker v. Lull Engineering (1978), a design is defective if it fails to perform as safely as an ordinary consumer would expect, or if the risks of the design outweigh its benefits when a safer, practical alternative design was available.
Failure to Warn
A product can be defective because it lacks adequate warnings or instructions about risks the manufacturer knew or should have known about. Vague labels, missing instructions, and warnings buried in fine print can all support a claim.
Defective Products Behind Injuries in Hemet
The products that injure people in Hemet reflect how the San Jacinto Valley lives and works. The cases we see include:
E-bike, scooter, and other lithium-ion batteries that overheat, catch fire, or explode while charging.
Off-road vehicles, including ATVs, UTVs, and dirt bikes used in the nearby hills and desert, with rollover, throttle, or brake defects.
Agricultural and landscaping equipment, such as mowers, tractors, chainsaws, and power tools with missing guards or faulty safety switches.
Vehicle parts, including defective airbags, tires, seatbelts, brakes, and steering components that turn a crash on Florida Avenue or Sanderson Avenue into a serious injury.
Home products, such as space heaters, pressure cookers, furniture that tips over, and appliances that start fires, a particular risk for the many older adults in Hemet's senior communities.
Children's products like car seats, cribs, and toys with choking or strangulation hazards.
The company that designed or manufactured the product
The maker of a defective component, such as a battery cell or brake part
Importers and distributors
The retailer or dealer that sold the product, including some online sellers
A company that installed, modified, or repaired the product negligently
If you were hurt by defective equipment at work, workers' compensation usually covers you against your employer, but you may also have a separate claim against the manufacturer or seller of the equipment. We handle those third-party product claims; we do not handle workers' compensation.
What to Do After a Defective Product Injury
Get medical care and tell the doctor how the injury happened.
Keep the product. Do not repair it, throw it away, or return it to the store. The product is usually the most important evidence in the case.
Save the packaging, manual, and receipt, and note the model and serial numbers.
Photograph the product, the scene, and your injuries.
Do not send the product to the manufacturer, even if they offer a refund or replacement, until you speak with a lawyer.
Check for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for household products or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for vehicles and car seats. A recall can help your case, but you can bring a claim even if the product was never recalled.
How We Build a Hemet Product Liability Case
We secure the product and arrange for engineers and other experts to inspect it under controlled conditions so the evidence is not altered. We review recall notices, complaint databases, and other incidents involving the same product, and we request the manufacturer's design, testing, and warning documents. This evidence shows what the company knew and when, and whether a safer design was available.
Compensation for Defective Product Injuries
Medical expenses, including burn care, surgery, rehabilitation, and future treatment
Lost wages and loss of future earning ability
Pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring, and disfigurement
Property damage, such as a home or vehicle damaged by a battery fire
Punitive damages under Civil Code § 3294 when a company knowingly sold a dangerous product with conscious disregard for safety
If a defective product caused a death, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim. California's comparative fault rules also apply in product cases, so a manufacturer can argue you misused the product, but that argument reduces your recovery only by your share of fault.
Deadlines for Product Liability Claims in California
A personal injury claim based on a defective product generally must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). Under the delayed discovery rule, the clock may start later if you did not know, and could not reasonably have known, that a product caused your injury. Property damage claims generally have three years. Because evidence and witnesses can disappear, it is best to act quickly.
Talk to a Hemet Defective Products Attorney
We serve Hemet, San Jacinto, Valle Vista, East Hemet, Winchester, and the rest of the San Jacinto Valley from our office at 211 N. State Street, Suite 111. Call (949) 325-7790 or contact us online for a free consultation. For other injuries, see our Hemet personal injury lawyer page.
Hemet Defective Products FAQs
Do I have to prove the manufacturer was careless?
No. Under California's strict liability rule, you generally need to prove the product was defective and the defect caused your injury, not that the manufacturer was negligent.
Can I sue the store that sold me the product?
Often, yes. Retailers and distributors in the chain of distribution can be strictly liable along with the manufacturer, which helps when the manufacturer is overseas.
What if the product was never recalled?
You can still bring a claim. A recall can be helpful evidence, but many defective products are never recalled.
What if I was using the product wrong when I was hurt?
You may still recover if the misuse was reasonably foreseeable or the warnings were inadequate. If you share some fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
How long do I have to file a defective product claim?
Generally two years from the injury, or from when you discovered or reasonably should have discovered that a product caused it. Property damage claims generally have three years.
How much does a product liability lawyer cost?
Cefali & Cefali works on a contingency fee. The consultation is free, there is no upfront cost, and you pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Michael Cefali is a dedicated accident attorney based in San Juan Capistrano, California, committed to securing justice and fair compensation for accident victims.
A graduate of Newport Harbor High School, he went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy, followed by his Juris Doctor from Chapman University School of Law.
Deeply invested in his community, Michael is an active member of the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributing to efforts that provide meals, housing, and support to those in need. Outside of his legal work and volunteer service, he enjoys fishing in Dana Point and spending time with his three rescue dogs—a Chihuahua, a Spaniel mix, and a Shepherd mix.
Driven by his strong belief in justice and fairness, Michael remains steadfast in advocating for individuals harmed by the negligence or inaction of others.
