Injured by a Defective Product? Colorado Law May Entitle You to Compensation.

When a product fails because it was designed poorly, manufactured incorrectly, or sold without adequate warnings, the company that put it in your hands bears responsibility — not you. At The Fields Group, we represent Coloradans injured by defective products and hold manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable through litigation, not just letters.

What Makes a Product Liability Case

Product liability law covers three distinct types of defects, and the type that caused your injury shapes how the case is built. A design defect means the product was dangerous before it was ever manufactured — the blueprint itself was flawed. A manufacturing defect means the design was sound but something went wrong in production, leaving your specific unit in a dangerous condition. A failure to warn means the product carried risks that weren't disclosed, and a reasonable person wouldn't have known to avoid them.

 

Colorado recognizes all three theories of recovery. In many cases, more than one applies. Our job is to identify which defects caused your injury and build the evidentiary record that supports each claim.

Products That Commonly Give Rise to Liability Claims

Defective product cases arise across a wide range of categories. Some of the most common we see in Colorado include:

 

  • Motor vehicle components: defective tires, airbags, seatbelts, and braking systems
  • Power tools and construction equipment: guards missing, switches that fail, components that shatter under load
  • Household appliances and electronics: fire hazards, electrical failures, overheating batteries
  • Children's products: toys, car seats, cribs, and playground equipment with design or manufacturing failures
  • Pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices: inadequate warnings, contaminated products, implants that fail
  • Industrial machinery: equipment that injures workers when it malfunctions or lacks proper safety mechanisms

 

This is not an exhaustive list. If a product you used as intended caused your injury, the case is worth evaluating.

Why Product Liability Cases Require Trial-Ready Counsel

Product liability claims are among the most aggressively defended in civil litigation. Manufacturers carry substantial insurance and retain experienced defense teams whose job is to minimize or eliminate your recovery. They will argue you misused the product, that your injury had another cause, or that the defect was open and obvious.

 

Winning requires more than a demand letter. It requires expert witnesses, engineering analysis, discovery into the manufacturer's internal testing records, and a legal team prepared to take the case to a jury if settlement doesn't reflect the full value of your claim. With 36 years of litigation and trial experience in Colorado courts, Doug Fields, our Founding Attorney, brings that preparation to every product liability case we accept, supported by Catalina Miranda, our Sr. Litigation Paralegal.

How Colorado's Strict Liability Standard Works

Colorado applies a strict liability standard to product defect cases, which means you do not have to prove the manufacturer was negligent. You have to prove the product was defective, the defect caused your injury, and you were using the product in a reasonably foreseeable way.

 

This is a meaningful distinction. A company can follow every internal protocol and still be liable if the product it sold caused harm. Strict liability shifts the focus from the manufacturer's conduct to the product itself — and it is one of the most powerful tools available to injured consumers in Colorado.

Compensation You May Be Entitled to Recover

A successful product liability claim can recover damages across several categories:

 

  • Medical expenses, both past and future, including surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing care
  • Lost wages and reduced earning capacity if the injury affects your ability to work
  • Pain and suffering, including physical pain and emotional distress
  • Permanent disability or disfigurement
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • In cases involving willful or reckless conduct, punitive damages may also be available

 

Colorado law also recognizes wrongful death claims when a defective product causes a fatality. If you lost a family member, we can evaluate whether a wrongful death action is appropriate.

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Common FAQs

Product Liability Questions We Hear Often

  • What should I do immediately after being injured by a defective product?

    Preserve the product and do not repair, alter, or discard it. Photograph your injuries and the product itself. Seek medical treatment and document the connection between the product and your injury. Contact a product liability attorney before speaking with the manufacturer or its insurer — anything you say can be used to minimize your claim.

  • How long do I have to file a product liability claim in Colorado?

    Colorado's statute of limitations for product liability claims is generally two years from the date of injury. However, certain exceptions apply depending on when the defect was discovered and the nature of the claim. Waiting reduces your options, so it is worth having your case evaluated as soon as possible.

  • Can I still file a claim if the product has been recalled?

    Yes. A recall can actually support your case by demonstrating that the manufacturer knew or should have known about the defect. The existence of a recall does not bar your claim and may strengthen the evidence of defect and causation.

  • What if I wasn't using the product exactly as directed?

    Strict liability applies when a product fails during reasonably foreseeable use — which includes uses that aren't perfectly by the book. If a reasonable person might use the product the way you did, the manufacturer may still be liable. This is a fact-specific question we evaluate during the initial case review.

  • Can multiple parties be held liable in a product liability case?

    Yes. Liability can extend to any party in the distribution chain — the designer, manufacturer, component supplier, distributor, or retailer. In cases involving complex supply chains, we investigate each link to identify all parties who contributed to putting a dangerous product in your hands.

  • Does The Fields Group handle product liability cases on contingency?

    Yes. We represent all personal injury clients, including those with product liability claims, on a contingency fee basis. There is no retainer, no hourly billing, and no out-of-pocket case expenses. We are paid only if we recover compensation for you.