Last Updated On 5th February 2026. You can make a defective product claim if you were injured as the direct result of a faulty item. When we buy a product, we don’t just expect it to work properly; we expect it to work safely. If this wasn’t the case for you, you may be able to pursue defective product compensation. Don’t worry, we can assist you throughout the personal injury compensation claims process from start to finish.
Here at Legal Expert, our solicitors genuinely care about the outcome of your claim and want to see you win the compensation you deserve. They don’t just prioritise setting your claim up for success; they also prioritise your well-being and individual needs throughout by providing a personalised service on No Win No Fee terms. So, if you’re looking for compassionate and dedicated representation, Legal Expert is here for you.
What You Need To Know
- What types of defective products can cause an injury? Defective products can include electrical equipment (e.g. phones or hair straighteners), medical devices, kitchen appliances, and vehicles.
- What injuries can you suffer because of a defective product? Faulty products commonly cause broken bones, amputations, lacerations, and severe burns.
- What should I do if I’ve suffered an injury from a defective product? You should seek medical attention, preserve the product as evidence, and explore your options for claiming compensation.
- How can defective products be identified? They can be identified and prevented through stringent quality control, thorough testing, and employee training.
- Can I claim for defective products? Yes, you can claim if the defective product in question caused your injury.
To learn more about how our solicitors can help you secure compensation for defective products, call an advisor today.
4.8 (466 reviews) What Is A Defective Product Claim?
When you buy a product, you automatically have legal protection that entitles you to take action if you are harmed by a defect that wasn’t your fault.
Your consumer rights are safeguarded by two key pieces of legislation:
- The Consumer Rights Act 2015. Section 9 of this law states that goods must be of a satisfactory quality, which means that a reasonable person would consider the product to meet a satisfactory standard.
- The Consumer Protection Act 1987. Under this Act, consumers have the right to seek damages if they are harmed by defective products.
With this in mind, you are able to make a personal injury claim if you can show that you bought an item that was faulty, and that this fault caused you to suffer an injury. Alternatively, you can claim if someone else bought the product but you were injured by it.
You may have a valid defective product claim for an incident you’ve had that caused harm or damage. To find out whether you have an eligible case, simply call Legal Expert today through the number at the top of this page for a free consultation.
What Types of Defective Products Could Cause Injuries?
Any product could theoretically cause an injury if it is manufactured with a fault. Resulting injuries can be minor, such as a slight laceration or bruise, while some injuries could be severe, life-threatening or even fatal.
Here, we are going to look at different types of products that, if made faulty, could lead to various types of incidents that have the potential to cause injury or damage:
- Electrical equipment, such as mobile phone chargers or hair straighteners, if faulty, could lead to electrical shocks, burns, scarring, or hair and skin damage.
- Medical devices or tools. For example, if a patient is fitted with a faulty pacemaker, this could lead them to suffer a fatal heart attack.
- Kitchen or home appliances. As we discuss in the next section, appliances like TVs, cookers tumble dryers and washing machines are a leading cause of house fires. This has the potential to cause massive damage, injury and even death.
- Vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, bikes or scooters. A fault with a vehicle could lead to a road traffic accident and inflict broken bones, internal injuries or brain damage.
- Gardening equipment or power tools. Even an unpowered tool like a hacksaw or a ladder could cause serious harm. A broken ladder could lead to someone falling from height.
If a faulty item has caused damage or injury/illness, you have the right to seek compensation under the Consumer Protection Act. Call today to discuss how we can help with a defective product injury claim.
Can Defective Products Cause Fires?
It is entirely possible that a product defect could lead to a fire. Government statistics show that 24,083 accidental fires in English dwellings were recorded between April 2022 and March 2023.
One of the leading causes of accidental fires in dwellings in the year 2022/23 was faulty appliances and leads, which caused 3,486 fires. Faulty fuel supplies were also a leading cause of accidental fires, causing 2,325 fires.
If you were hurt in a fire caused by faulty electrics or other defective appliances, call today to discuss your options and see if our solicitors could help you make a product liability compensation claim.
What Should I Do If I Suffered An Injury Due To A Defective Product?
After suffering an injury due to a defective product, you should start considering how to prove that the product caused you harm. Don’t worry if you have no idea about what evidence is required, as we explain it in this section.
Seek Out Medical Attention
You may find that your injuries require medical attention. This should be your number 1 priority before even considering the claims process. This applies whether you need to go to the hospital, a GP, a therapist or another type of healthcare facility.
This offers a dual benefit, as accessing medical treatment also creates an official record of your injuries and treatment. At a later stage, you can request a copy of your medical records in order to prove your defective product claim.
Start Gathering Your Evidence
The more evidence you are able to provide, the better your chances of success. You can use the following pieces of evidence in order to strengthen your case:
- Images of the defective product and any visible injuries
- A receipt or bank statement to show you purchased the product
- Packaging, safety notices and instructions that the product came with
Make A Defective Product Report
You may find it helpful to contact the company that manufactured the faulty goods and inform them of the issue. Citizens Advice also offer guidance on consumer issues and can help you to direct your complaint.
Keep Your Own Records
Further along the defective product claims process, you may find it difficult to recall your experience of the incident. Making your own notes may provide a useful record for you to refer to. You can also include this in your evidence. It may be beneficial to note down:
- Your symptoms and pain levels
- The psychological impact of your injuries
- Any prescriptions and medical treatments you require
- Costs relating to travel, therapy, medical expenses and home adjustments
- Any time you have taken off work due to injury
Enquire With A Law Firm
When you feel ready to consider your legal options, you may find it helpful to speak with one of our advisors. They can:
- Explain whether you are eligible to start a defective product claim
- Evaluate your potential compensation payout based on the unique factors of your case
- Connect you to one of our specialist solicitors on a No Win No Fee basis
There is a lot of information available online, but our enquiries team can give you direct answers to your questions.
Consider The Time Limit
There is a general time limit of 3 years for a personal injury claim, starting from the date of the incident. This is set out in the Limitation Act 1980. Alternatively, if just claiming for the faulty product without suffering an injury, this is up to 6 years.
You can speak with an advisor today to confirm how long you have to make your defective product claim. The claims process can seem daunting, so feel free to enquire.
What Compensation Could I Claim If I’m Injured By Faulty Goods?
Should you win your defective product compensation claim, you will be awarded compensation. Payouts in personal injury claims can be split into two parts, known as heads of loss.
The primary head of loss is general damages, which aim to compensate you for any physical injury or emotional damage.
When payouts for personal injury compensation claims are calculated, those figuring out a number might get some insight from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This document has guideline compensation brackets for different injuries, and we have used it to create the table you see below.
Compensation Table
This table features JCG figures, with the top line being the only exception. All personal injury cases differ so the table is just a guide.
| INJURY | SEVERITY | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Significant Injuries And Financial Losses | Severe | Up to £1,000,000+ including special damages such as private medical treatment, child care costs and travel expenses. |
| Hand | Total Or Effective Loss Of Both Hands | £171,680 to £245,900 |
| Hand | Moderate - Crush Injuries to Penetrating Wounds | £6,910 to £16,200 |
| Injuries Affecting Sight | Lost sight in 1 eye and reduced vision in the other eye | £117,150 to £219,400 |
| Leg | Amputation Of One Leg Above The Knee | £127,930 to £167,760 |
| Scars To Other Body Parts | Significant Burns Covering 40% Or More Of The Body | Likely to exceed £127,930 |
| Scars To Other Body Parts | Single Disfiguring Scar | £9,560 to £27,740 |
| Brain Damage | Moderate (ii) - Moderate to Modest Intellectual Deficit | £110,720 to £183,190 |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Severe - Permanent Effects | £73,050 to £122,850 |
| Lung Damage | Breathing Difficulties (Short Of Disabling Breathlessness) | £38,210 to £66,920 |
Can My Defective Product Injury Claim Payout Account For Financial Loss?
It is also possible to seek compensation for financial losses that an injury caused. The special damages head of claim accounts for this, meaning that your defective product claim payout could include reimbursement for:
- The cost of replacing damaged property, not including the faulty product itself.
- Medical expenses.
- Travel fees.
- A loss of earnings if you cannot work due to your injuries.
Make sure that you keep receipts, payslips and other documents showing out-of-pocket expenses so you can submit them as evidence.
If you’d like to discuss how much compensation you might receive for an injury caused by faulty products, simply call us or use the live chat option below.
4.8 (466 reviews) £6 Million Compensation Case Study
In this case study, Jade Horton received £6 million in compensation after a fire killed both of her children. She broke both of her legs after jumping out of a second-floor window to escape the flames. Her injuries have had permanent consequences. An investigation into the fire confirmed that an electrical fault in a television was the most likely cause.
When manufacturers do not follow the laws in place to protect consumers, the consequences can be drastic. Get in touch with an advisor today if you have been harmed by a defective product.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy08n3n95v4o
Can I Make A No Win No Fee Defective Product Compensation Claim?
If eligible, one of our solicitors can represent your defective product claim on a No Win No Fee basis. This is a common route for claimants to take when looking for a financially viable contract. A Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) is a contract that provides No Win No Fee representation. By signing this agreement, you would not need to pay for your solicitor’s work:
- Before the defective product claim begins
- While the case is ongoing
- In the event that your claim is unsuccessful
On the other hand, if you do receive compensation, a success fee will be owed to you. This legal term refers to the percentage of the compensation that you pay to your solicitor. There is a legally enforced cap on the percentage taken. Therefore, you will keep the largest share of your defective product compensation.
In addition, our solicitors offer the following services to eligible claimants:
- Helping you to gather the evidence that will prove your injuries and the situation that caused them
- Representing your interests via correspondence with the defendant
- Explaining key legal concepts in straightforward terms
- Outlining the full impact of your injuries and arguing for the defendant to consider these under a potential compensation payout
Contact Us For Free Product Liability Claim Guidance
If you’d like to learn more about making a defective product claim or believe you have a case, we can help. Simply contact us anytime for free guidance and an evaluation that can let you know if one of our expert solicitors could take your case, but does not include an obligation to start legal action.
This service is available to you all day, every day. Reach us through any of these ways:
- Call 0800 073 8804.
- Contact us online.
- Send a message through the live chat feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section, you can read the answers to some frequently asked questions we receive about defective product claims.
When Is A Product Considered Legally Defective?
A product is legally defective when it does not meet a satisfactory standard/quality.
Who Is Responsible For A Defective Product Injury?
The manufacturer of the defective product is responsible for the injury (you can likely find their name on the product).
Can I Claim Against The Manufacturer Of A Defective Product?
Yes, you can claim against the manufacturer of a defective product if it caused you harm.
Can I Claim Against A Retailer Or Supplier?
Yes, you can claim against a retailer or supplier if you can show that they failed to fulfil their legal obligations regarding the product, causing you harm.
Can I Make A Claim If The Product Had Safety Warnings?
Yes, you can make a claim if you followed the safety warnings on a product but suffered harm. You could also claim for such injuries if the safety warnings did not adequately address the risk to you.
What Types Of Product Defects Can Be Claimed For?
Defective product claims are often related to issues with vehicles, power tools, kitchen appliances, medical equipment and electrical devices.
Can I Claim If A Product Was Recalled?
Yes, you can claim if a product was recalled, as the product is still subject to laws protecting consumers.
Can Second-Hand Or Refurbished Products Be Claimed For?
Yes, you can claim for harm caused by a defective or refurbished product, though the nature of the defect may determine who your claim is made against.
Can You Claim Compensation For Faulty Products Without A Receipt?
Yes, you can claim compensation for faulty goods without a receipt on the condition that you are able to provide other valid forms of evidence.
More Resources About Making A Defective Product Claim
Here are some further articles from our extensive collection:
- How to make a broken or faulty handle compensation claim.
- We discuss claims for farm accidents.
- A look at housing disrepair compensation claims.
These sites could also have the information you need.
- Government advice on Statutory Sick Pay claims.
- Check this Chartered Trading Standards Institute page to see the latest product recall and safety notice updates in the UK.
- Information on first aid from the NHS
Thank you for reading our defective product claim guide. Please call if you need any further guidance or support.
