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Faulty product claims arise when a defective or unsafe product causes you to suffer an injury or recognised loss. If the product failed to provide the level of safety you were reasonably entitled to expect, you could be eligible to claim compensation. A claim might involve an electrical appliance that overheated and caused burns, or a child’s toy that broke during normal use and led to an injury. If your claim succeeds, compensation can reflect how your injuries have affected your life, while also recovering eligible financial losses linked to the incident. Accident Claims’ solicitors can assess your case and explain whether you could claim under a No Win No Fee agreement.
When a product you trusted suddenly fails and leaves you or a loved one hurt, it can feel frightening, unfair and completely unexpected. Whether you are dealing with the sting of a burn from an appliance or trying to comfort a child injured by a faulty toy, the shock can quickly turn into worry about missed work, medical appointments and the cost of putting things right. This is where understanding why the product failed becomes just as important as treating your injuries. Accident Claims can investigate how the defect occurred, identify who may be legally responsible and explain whether you have grounds to pursue compensation.
With decades of combined solicitor experience and over £100 million secured in compensation, our trusted legal specialists understand how defective product cases are investigated. We can help identify who may be responsible and gather evidence such as packaging, product instructions, and recall information. We tailor our support to your situation, whether the claim concerns an unsafe household item, a faulty medical product, or a defective vehicle component.
4.8Yes, you can claim if you were injured by a defective product with Accident Claims if a manufacturing flaw or a design defect has directly caused you harm. Importantly, you do not need to prove that a manufacturer or supplier was actively careless for the validity of your claim to be considered. When we look at your case, we focus on understanding your situation and checking whether your circumstances satisfy 3 legal points:
If a faulty product damages your belongings, you can claim compensation for those losses. Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, you can include these damages in your claim provided the total cost of repairing or replacing your damaged belongings exceeds £275. So, if a faulty appliance has ruined your furniture or clothing, we can help you document and value the cost of those items.
If you were injured by a defective product, you may be able to pursue compensation for this harm. For a claim to be valid, we will need to establish that the item was used in a normal or reasonably expected way and that the defect caused your injury. Our role is to help you bring this information together clearly so that your claim reflects what happened and its impact on your life.
If you are weighing up whether to start the faulty product claims process, please contact us today. Our advisors are here to talk you through the key issues, including what happened and how the injury has affected your life.
Manufacturers, retailers, and importers are among the main parties that could be responsible for a faulty product that caused you to suffer an injury. The Consumer Protection Act 1987 establishes strict liability, which means you only need to show the product was unsafe and directly caused your injury. Additionally, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 may also apply, as products should be as described, of satisfactory quality, and fit for their intended purpose.
Our team at Accident Claims draws on extensive experience in defective product claims to identify where responsibility sits, which may include:
In some cases, responsibility may pass between several businesses in the supply chain, making early investigation by our team particularly important where products have been imported or rebranded.
Faulty product claims can arise from everyday items that overheat, collapse, or fail during normal use. Drawing on our experience handling complex product liability claims, we’ve included examples showing how these faults can arise and the types of injuries they may cause.
Electrical items rely on built‑in safety features to control heat and manage live currents. When one of these protections fails, an everyday device can cause electrical shocks and other serious harm:
Products designed for children must have secure components and age-appropriate designs to handle ordinary play safely. A toy becomes dangerous when a mechanical part fails suddenly, transforming an everyday activity into a hazard, such as:
Household items such as furniture, appliances, and hot water bottles pose a significant risk if they have a structural weakness or a faulty component. You may have grounds to pursue compensation if:
Vehicle components like brakes, tyres and seatbelts are safety‑critical. Even a small defect or fault can have severe consequences. For example:
Medical products are relied upon when you are already vulnerable or recovering. When a medical product is defective, it can cause significant harm:
Cosmetic products must undergo strict quality checks to ensure their ingredients are safe. When a contaminated or incorrectly formulated batch reaches the shelves, it can cause serious skin and hair damage:
If your accident was caused by a different type of defective product, our solicitors can assess whether the same legal principles may apply to your circumstances.
Burns, fractures, and soft tissue trauma are common injuries that could lead to faulty product claims if they were caused by an unsafe or defective item. Our solicitors will look closely at how the product harmed you, what has changed since the incident, and what evidence could help support your case. This may include injuries involving:
Whether your injury is still healing or has left you with longer-term problems, speak to us about what happened and get clear advice about the faulty product claims process.
If your case succeeds, how much faulty product compensation you could claim will depend on the severity of your injuries and the impact they have on your life and finances.
Compensation is usually assessed by considering 2 heads of claim:
When we calculate your general damages, our team may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help reach an accurate valuation for your claim. This is a publication containing suggested compensation brackets for different types of injury at varying levels of severity.
For guidance only, we have included a table below with figures from the JCG. The amounts are not guaranteed, as defective product injury claims are assessed on their own evidence. The top entry is not from the JCG.
| Injury | Compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Several Very Severe Injuries and Financial Losses | Up to £1 million and above | Multiple instances of severe injury, with costs including lost earnings, damaged personal property, and rehabilitative support. |
| Brain - Very Severe | £372,570 to £533,720 | At top bracket, claimant will require full nursing care and show little to no signs of meaningful environmental response. |
| Paralysis - Paraplegia | £289,420 to £375,540 | Level of award will reflect extent of independence and pain (if present). |
| Facial Disfigurement - Very Severe Scarring | £39,340 to £128,590 | Claimant is young (typically in teens or early 30s), with very disfiguring cosmetic impact and severe psychological effects. |
| Sight - Complete Loss of 1 Eye | £72,440 to £86,820 | Award will depend on cosmetic and psychiatric impact, as well as age. |
| Hand - Serious | £38,310 to £81,790 | Includes cases involving several amputated fingers being rejoined, resulting in hand being clawed, unsightly, and clumsy. |
| Arm - Less Severe | £25,370 to £51,750 | Substantial level of recovery (or expected) after significant disabilities. |
| Bodily Scarring - Several Noticeable Laceration Scars or Single Disfiguring Scar | £10,350 to £30,030 | To the arms, hands, legs, chest, or back. |
| Damage to Teeth (i) | £11,540 to £15,080 | Several front teeth lost or damaged. |
| Hair Damage | £9,700 to £14,560 | Hair will be brittle, dry, and/or actually fall out due to defective tinting, permanent waving, or something similar. |
Every claim is valued on its own evidence, so the final award will depend on the medical evidence, the impact of your injuries and any financial losses we can recover.
4.8Faulty product claims can include financial losses if you have experienced clear, out-of-pocket expenses or missed income due to injuries caused by a defective item. These losses fall under a head of claim known as special damages, which can include both past and future costs.
To include out‑of‑pocket expenses in your claim, we will need evidence that shows the exact financial losses you have experienced. Keeping everyday records such as payslips, bank statements, receipts and invoices is a simple but vital step, as it allows our team to assess the direct monetary impact for your defective product compensation claim.
Losing income after an injury can place immediate pressure on household finances. Payslips, employment records and evidence of reduced hours can all help demonstrate these losses. Our team can help you gather payslips or employment records to document your immediate losses and assess whether your long-term earning capacity has been affected.
Paying out of pocket for treatment or medications after being injured by a defective product can create extra financial strain. Keep receipts, invoices and prescription records wherever possible, as these can help demonstrate the cost of treatment linked to your injuries.
Even smaller expenses, like travelling to medical appointments or physiotherapy sessions, can add up when a faulty product causes harm.
When a defective item leaves you with a burn, fracture or other injury, everyday tasks such as cooking, dressing or managing household chores may require extra support.
If you have paid for rehabilitation services following your injury, our team will help you identify the financial records needed to track these expenses. Depending on how you were harmed by the defective product, this might be for physiotherapy, long-term scar management, or professional counselling.
A sudden fire, leak, or electrical surge caused by a faulty appliance can lead to significant damage to your home or belongings. If clothing, furniture, flooring or electronic devices were destroyed during the incident, we recommend keeping purchase receipts or repair quotes to help us assess their value.
If a faulty product has left you injured and out of pocket, you do not have to work out whether you can recover your financial losses alone. Speak to our team today for clear, supportive advice about your options and what evidence could help with special damages.
If a defective product caused or contributed to a loved one’s death, the deceased’s estate and certain family members may be able to pursue a fatal faulty product claim. For the first 6 months after the death, only the deceased’s estate can bring a claim. This can include compensation for your loved one’s pain, suffering and financial losses before they passed away.
During this period, the estate can also pursue compensation on behalf of eligible dependants. If the estate does not take this legal action in those initial 6 months, qualifying family members may then bring their own claim for the impact of losing a loved one.
We understand this is a difficult time for your family. Our team is here to handle the legal details sensitively and explain each step in plain language. For more information, you can read our fatal accident claims guide or speak with our supportive advisors whenever you feel ready.
Accident Claims can help you with the faulty product claim process by reviewing what happened, identifying what evidence may be useful and explaining whether you are within time to claim. You do not need to have every document ready for us to support you by:
Reach out to Accident Claims today for further information on the claiming process.
Defective product claims often involve technical evidence about how an item failed and who was responsible for placing it on the market. Our solicitors investigate these issues while assessing how your injuries have affected your daily life.
When you choose Accident Claims for the faulty product claims process, you are supported by solicitors who understand how to investigate defective items, identify who may be responsible, and build evidence around the impact on your life. Our role is to make the process feel more manageable at every stage by:
Yes, faulty product claims can be made on a No Win No Fee basis with Accident Claims under a Conditional Fee Agreement. Under our No Win No Fee terms, you would not pay for our solicitor’s work throughout the claim, including:
If your claim succeeds, a success fee is taken as a legally capped percentage of the compensation. This will be explained clearly before you decide whether to proceed, so you know how the arrangement works from the beginning.
If you still have the faulty product, its packaging or proof of purchase, speaking to us sooner rather than later can help preserve valuable evidence. Our advisors can explain your options and whether you have grounds to begin a claim.
We have several relevant guides, including those listed below:
External resources:
Thank you for reading our guide about the faulty product claims process.
