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Can I Make A Defective Product Claim – Compensation Examples

Use our defective product claim guide to learn when you can make a No Win No Fee compensation claim.

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Last Updated On 3rd December 2025. 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 find out more about how our solicitors can help you secure compensation for defective products, call an advisor today.

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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. 

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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?

First and foremost, you should make sure you get the medical treatment you need. After that, you could consider whether you have a case against the manufacturer for a defective product claim. With that in mind, see if you can collect the following:

  • A copy of the fire investigation report. You can request a copy from your local fire and rescue service.
  • The product itself, as well as any photos or videos that highlight the fault.
  • Any packaging, instructions or safety notices that came with the product.
  • Proof of purchase. This could be an entry on a bank statement or a receipt.
  • Medical evidence showing the extent of your injuries and treatment. You can ask your GP for a copy of your medical records.

Ultimately, evidence could decide whether or not a faulty product compensation claim is successful because it should prove liability. If you work with a personal injury solicitor, they can help you gather evidence and present it during your claim.

For more information on how our solicitors help people claim for injuries caused by product defects, and what evidence you can collect to give your claim the best chance of success, call the number listed above.

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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.

INJURYSEVERITYCompensation
Multiple Significant Injuries And Financial LossesSevereUp to £1,000,000+ including special damages such as private medical treatment, child care costs and travel expenses.
HandTotal Or Effective Loss Of Both Hands£171,680 to £245,900
HandModerate - Crush Injuries to Penetrating Wounds£6,910 to £16,200
Injuries Affecting SightLoss of Sight in One Eye with Reduced Vision in the Remaining Eye (i)£117,150 to £219,400
Brain DamageModerate (ii) - Moderate to Modest Intellectual Deficit£110,720 to £183,190
LegAmputation Of One Leg Above The Knee£127,930 to £167,760
Scarring To Other Parts Of The BodySignificant Burns Covering 40% Or More Of The BodyLikely to exceed £127,930
Scarring To Other Parts Of The BodySingle Disfiguring Scar£9,560 to £27,740
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Severe - Permanent Effects£73,050 to £122,850
Lung DamageBreathing 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.

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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 have 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, you will owe a success fee. 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:

A solicitor writing down notes on a defective product claim while sitting with a client at a table.

More Resources About Making A Defective Product Claim

Here are some further articles from our extensive collection:

These sites could also have the information you need.

Thank you for reading our defective product claim guide. Please call if you need any further guidance or support.

  • Patrick Mallon legal expert author

    Patrick Mallon (BA, PgDl) is a Grade A personal injury solicitor and Head of our EL/PL Department, which handles accidents at work and public liability claims, such as slips, trips and falls. Patrick qualified in 2005 and has over 20 years of experience as an SRA-regulated solicitor. Patrick is well-known in the legal industry for his successful case, Billie Mae Smith v McDonalds. You can learn all about Patrick, his qualifications and his experience as a solicitor by clicking below.

    Learn more about Patrick
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