California Product Liability Case Value Calculator

California generally gives you 2 years from the injury to file, in line with the national average of 2.7 years. Product cases also face a separate "statute of repose" — often 10–12 years from the product's manufacture or sale — that can bar a claim regardless of when the injury occurred, so both clocks must be checked.

California product liability damages include medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering; a documented prior recall, a known defect, or willful misconduct can also support punitive damages that multiply the award. California does not impose a statutory cap on punitive damages for this type of case, which means exceptionally reckless or malicious conduct can result in substantial punitive awards determined by the jury.