Product liability and defective product solicitors

When a product is defective, the consequences are not always limited to personal injury. Businesses and individuals can also suffer financial losses, property damage, or operational disruption caused by faulty or unsafe products.

These situations fall under the wider area of product liability law, and our team is experienced in helping both claimants and defendants resolve defetive product legal disputes effectively.

What are defective product liability claims?

These are commercial claims arising from design, manufacturing or marketing defects in products that cause harm in ways other than physical injury. Examples include:

• Property damage – e.g. a defective appliance causes a fire, damaging a home or commercial premises.

• Business interruption – machinery or components fail, leading to downtime, lost revenue, or reputational damage.

• Defective building materials – products used in construction later prove unsafe or non-compliant, requiring costly remedial works.

• Faulty goods supplied in bulk – leading to financial loss when they cannot be sold or used as intended.

Example product liability scenarios

• A restaurant suffers losses when refrigeration units fail due to a manufacturing fault.

• A construction company faces costly repairs after defective cladding or insulation materials are installed.

• A homeowner’s property is damaged by a defective electrical appliance.

• A retailer is left with unsellable stock due to a design defect.

• A manufacturer is faced with claims from multiple retailers over defective products supplied in bulk, with liability needing to be apportioned across several parties.

Understanding the liability chain

Responsibility for defective products often involves multiple parties across the supply chain:

• Manufacturers – may be liable for design or production defects.

• Importers and distributors – may hold responsibility if they brought the product into the UK market or failed to conduct adequate safety checks.

• Retailers or suppliers – can be liable if they sold the defective product or failed to warn customers of risks.

In complex cases, liability may need to be apportioned between several parties depending on who is responsible for the defect, how the product was supplied, and contractual arrangements. We help clients navigate this chain to identify:

• Who is legally responsible.

• How damages or losses should be shared or passed along the chain.

• Whether contractual agreements or warranties affect the allocation of liability.

How we help claimants

Our product liability team offers a practical and commercially focused service. We can:

• Assess whether you have a valid claim and identify the best legal route.

• Gather evidence, including expert reports, to prove the defect and losses caused.

• Identify the correct parties along the supply chain to hold accountable.

• Negotiate with manufacturers, insurers, or suppliers to seek compensation.

• Advise on limitation periods and regulatory obligations.

• Represent you in court proceedings where necessary.

How we help defendants

Businesses facing claims may assume insurers will manage everything, but direct legal advice and representation is often essential.

We act for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and retailers defending claims involving financial loss, property damage, or defective goods.