Product liability
Product Liability Claims Check If You're Eligible
If you’ve been injured or become ill because of a defective product, you may be entitled to compensation. We’ll explain your legal options clearly, with no upfront costs.
- Free, no-obligation claim assessment
- No Win No Fee, you only pay if we win
- Clear guidance from SRA-regulated solicitors
- Support throughout your claim, start to finish
SRA
Regulated Solicitors
20+
Years of Experience
£ 15M+
in Personal Injury Claims Handled
Always
No Win, No Fee
Find Your Claim Type
Find the right product liability claim
Explore the different types of product liability claims we handle.
Beauty treatment compensation claims
Claims arising from defective beauty products and unsafe cosmetic treatments.
Hairdressing injury compensation claims
Claims involving faulty hair products, chemicals and negligent salon treatments.
Electric shock injury claims
Claims arising from faulty electrical products and unsafe equipment.
Industrial injury claims
Claims arising from faulty electrical products and unsafe equipment.
Factory accident claims
Claims involving defective machinery and unsafe factory equipment.
Construction accident claims
Claims arising from faulty tools, equipment and construction products.
Back injury compensation claims
Claims involving back injuries caused by defective products.
Hand injury compensation claims
Claims for hand injuries caused by faulty tools and consumer products.
Understanding Your Rights
What is a product liability claim?
A product liability claim arises when you’re injured or made ill by a defective or unsafe product. This can include design flaws, manufacturing faults, or inadequate warnings and instructions. Under UK law, liability is strict, so you only need to show the defect caused the harm, not prove negligence.
Who can be held responsible?
Depending on what happened, a claim can be brought against the manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or importer, wherever the product entered the supply chain.
Can I claim if I wasn't the one who bought it?
Yes. Even if the product was a gift or borrowed, you can still claim if you were injured by a defect while using it correctly.
What if it was bought second-hand or online?
You may still have a valid claim. Claims against private sellers are more limited, but UK-based online purchases are covered in the same way as in-store ones.
The scale of the problem
Current UK & EU recall data on why having a specialist solicitor on your side matters.
14,484
European product recalls across five key industries in 2024 , the highest annual total on record.
4,376
Consumer product recalls in Europe in 2024, up 32.9% year-on-year and the highest annual total in 11 years.
Claim Value
What could your claim be worth?
Compensation is based on the severity of your injuries and how you’re affected. Every claim is different, so we assess value individually rather than relying on generic figures.
Burns & skin injuries
Minor to severe
Includes lasting scarring where relevant
Allergic reactions
Mild to severe
Medical evidence required to support a claim
Fractures & impact injuries
Minor to severe
Recovery time and lasting impact affect the final amount
Illness from a defective product
Varies by severity
Assessed with independent medical evidence
Property damage
Repair or replacement cost
Where a defective product damaged your home or belongings
Loss of Earnings
100% of net
Until return to work, where applicable
Not sure what your claim is worth?
There may be more you can claim. Talk to us today to find out about your individual entitlements.
Your rights
You do not have to prove anyone was careless
Most injury claims turn on proving somebody was negligent. Product claims are different, and the difference works in your favour.
What the law actually asks you to show
Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, liability for a defective product is strict. You do not have to show the manufacturer was careless, cut corners, or knew about the problem. You have to show two things: that the product was defective, and that the defect caused your injury. This matters in practice because the inner workings of a manufacturing process are not something you could ever investigate yourself. The law does not ask you to.
What counts as defective
The Act defines a defect by what people are reasonably entitled to expect, rather than by what the manufacturer intended. A product is defective if “the safety of the product is not such as persons generally are entitled to expect” (section 3). A kettle that scalds, a charger that catches fire, a hair dye that burns the scalp when used as directed. None of these are what anyone is entitled to expect, whatever went wrong inside the factory.
More than one route can apply to the same accident. You may also have a claim in negligence, and if you bought the product yourself you may have rights against the seller under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. They have different time limits. Part of our job at the outset is working out which ones are open to you.
Why Claim Time
Trusted for product liability claims
across the UK
We help clients recover compensation after a defective product causes harm, with care and clarity throughout.
Clear, straightforward legal advice
We explain your options in plain English so you understand exactly what you're entitled to.
Strong cases built on real evidence
We gather receipts, expert reports, and medical evidence to build a case that stands up to scrutiny.
We deal with the insurer, not you
We handle all correspondence with the manufacturer, retailer, or their insurer so you can focus on recovery.
Support tailored to you
Every client has a dedicated solicitor so you always know who is handling your case.
No win no fee
Zero upfront cost. If we don't recover compensation for you, you pay us nothing.
Don't miss the 3-year deadline
You generally have three years from the date of injury, or from when you became aware of the defect, to bring a claim.
Simple Process
How your claim works
A three-step process designed to be straightforward.
Tell us what happened
Book a free, no-obligation call with our team. If you have a claim, we’ll let you know.
We handle everything
Our solicitors identify the responsible party, gather evidence, and handle correspondence with their insurer.
You receive compensation
Once a settlement is agreed, your compensation is paid directly into your account.
Time limits
How long you have, and the deadline most people have never heard of
A three-step process designed to be straightforward.
Three years
The usual limit is three years, running from the later of the date the damage happened and the date you first knew enough to connect your injury to the product (Limitation Act 1980, section 11A).
Different rules apply where the injured person is a child, or does not have the mental capacity to conduct a claim. Tell us the dates and we will tell you where you stand.
Ten years, and this one is absolute
Separately from the three years, a claim under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 cannot be brought more than ten years after the specific product was supplied by its producer. This is a long-stop. It extinguishes the right of action altogether, whether or not the three years had even started to run.
It runs from when that particular item was put into circulation. Not from when the model was launched, and not from when you bought it. An appliance that sat in a warehouse for two years before it was sold has already used part of its ten years.
If the ten years has passed, do not assume that is the end of it. A claim under the Act is gone, but a claim in negligence is not automatically gone, because it is not subject to that long-stop. The ordinary three-year limit still applies. This is exactly the situation where it is worth asking rather than assuming.
Case Example
What a claim like yours can look like
“A skincare product I’d used before without any issue caused a reaction that needed hospital treatment. My solicitor gathered the medical evidence and dealt with the manufacturer’s insurer throughout, so I could focus on my recovery.”
Sophie (Name changed)
Typical Outcome
Settled
Once the product defect was established and linked to the injury, this claim was resolved without needing to go to court. As with any claim, the details, timeline and value depend on individual circumstances, so your case may look quite different.
Learn More
Related guides
Got Questions?
Product liability claims
your questions answered
Straight answers on eligibility, evidence, and what a claim can cover.
Tap a question to reveal its answer.
What is a product liability claim?
A product liability claim arises when you are injured or made ill due to a defective or unsafe product. This can include design flaws, manufacturing faults, or inadequate warnings and instructions. You may bring a claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer responsible, and if a defect is proven to have caused the harm, you may be entitled to compensation.
What is proof of product liability?
Proof of product liability means showing that a defective product caused your injury, illness, or property damage. This can be supported with medical records, receipts, photos, or expert evidence. Under UK law, liability is strict, so you only need to show that the defect caused the harm, not prove negligence.
Can I claim if I wasn't the one who bought the product?
Yes. Even if the product was given to you as a gift or you borrowed it, you can still claim if you were injured by a defect while using it correctly.
What if the product was bought second-hand or online?
You may still have a valid claim. Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, the manufacturer, importer, or another liable party may be responsible if a defective product caused your injury. Claims involving products bought from private sellers can be more limited. If you bought the product online from a UK business, your legal rights are generally the same as if you had bought it in a shop. Claims involving products bought from overseas sellers may be more complex, depending on who supplied or imported the product.
How do I file a product liability claim?
You’ll need to identify the manufacturer, retailer, or supplier responsible and gather evidence such as receipts, medical reports, and photos of the defect. We handle this investigation for you and explain your options in a free consultation, with no obligation to proceed.
Can I make a no win no fee claim?
Most of our product liability claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis, so there’s no upfront cost and you only pay a pre-agreed fee if your claim succeeds.
What are examples of product liability claims?
Common examples include a lithium battery or charger that overheats or catches fire, a cosmetic or hair product causing a chemical burn or allergic reaction, food containing a foreign object or an undeclared allergen, a children’s product such as a pushchair or car seat that fails, a power tool or ladder with a design fault, and a medical device or implant that does not perform safely. The category matters less than the two questions the law asks: was the product defective, and did the defect cause the harm.
What are the requirements for a product liability claim?
Three things. That the product was defective, meaning its safety was not what people generally are entitled to expect. That you suffered death, personal injury or damage to your property. And that the defect caused it. You do not have to prove the manufacturer was negligent, because liability under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 is strict. You also need to be within the time limits, which on this type of claim means both the three-year period and the ten-year long-stop.
Do I need to still have the product?
Three things. That the product was defective, meaning its safety was not what people generally are entitled to expect. That you suffered death, personal injury or damage to your property. And that the defect caused it. You do not have to prove the manufacturer was negligent, because liability under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 is strict. You also need to be within the time limits, which on this type of claim means both the three-year period and the ten-year long-stop.
What is covered under product liability?
It helps a great deal, so keep it if you can, along with the packaging, the instructions, the receipt or order confirmation, and any photographs of the damage. Do not send the item back to the retailer or the manufacturer before taking advice, because it may need examining by an expert. If it has already been thrown away, repaired or returned, say so. Claims still succeed on photographs, medical records, recall notices and evidence from other users, so a missing product is a difficulty rather than an automatic end.
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Discuss your product liability claim
If you’ve been injured or made ill by a defective product, our solicitors will review your situation in a free, no-obligation call.
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