A defective product can cause serious harm even when you use it exactly as it was meant to be used. In Nevada, you may be able to recover money from the company that made or sold that product, and you usually do not have to prove the company was careless. This page explains how Nevada product liability law works, who can be held responsible, and the deadline that applies to your claim. If a faulty product hurt you or someone in your family, VK Law can review what happened at no cost.
Key Takeaways
- Nevada recognizes strict product liability. You generally must show the product was defective and unreasonably dangerous, not that the maker was careless.
- Three kinds of defect can support a claim: a design defect, a manufacturing defect, or a failure to warn.
- More than one company in the chain may share responsibility, including the manufacturer, the distributor, and the retailer that sold the product.
- You generally have two years from the injury to file a Nevada product liability lawsuit (NRS 11.190(4)(e)).
- Being partly at fault does not automatically end your claim. Under Nevada’s comparative negligence rule (NRS 41.141), your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, and is barred only if you are more at fault than everyone else combined.
What counts as a “defective product” under Nevada law
Product liability is the area of law that holds companies responsible when a product they put on the market injures someone. Nevada courts recognize strict product liability, a doctrine that looks at the product itself rather than at how carefully the company behaved.
A product can be defective in three main ways.
A design defect means the product is dangerous because of the way it was planned. Every unit of that product carries the same risk, and a safer design was often possible without ruining how the product works.
A manufacturing defect means the design was sound, but something went wrong while this particular unit was being built. The item that hurt you differs from the way it was supposed to be made.
A failure to warn, sometimes called a marketing defect, means the product did not come with adequate warnings or instructions about a danger that is not obvious. A tool sold without a clear caution about a hidden hazard is one example.
You do not have to prove the company was careless
Many injury cases turn on negligence, which means proving that someone failed to act with reasonable care. Strict product liability works differently. To recover, you generally need to show that the product was defective and unreasonably dangerous when it left the defendant’s control, and that the defect caused your injury while you were using the product in a way the company could reasonably expect.
That last point matters. A claim is not limited to the single “correct” use of a product. It can also cover uses the maker should have foreseen, including some forms of ordinary misuse. You do not have to prove that the company knew about the problem. You have to show the product was unreasonably dangerous and that it caused real harm.
Who may be responsible along the supply chain
A product usually passes through several hands before it reaches you. Because of that, more than one company may share responsibility for a defective product. Depending on the facts, that can include the manufacturer of the finished product, the maker of a specific component part, the distributor or wholesaler, and the retailer that sold the item to the public.
Naming the right parties early is important. Each company may carry its own insurance, and each may try to shift blame onto the others. A careful lawyer works to identify every business in the chain that may be liable, rather than stopping at the store where the product was bought.
Everyday products that can turn dangerous
Product liability claims can involve almost any kind of product. Common examples include:
- Auto parts such as tires, brakes, airbags, seat belts, or steering components that fail during normal driving. A defective vehicle part can cause the same kind of crash covered on our Nevada car accident lawyer page.
- Household appliances and electronics that overheat, catch fire, or cause an electric shock.
- Medical devices and implanted hardware that break down or were not designed safely.
- Power tools, ladders, and work equipment that fail under ordinary use.
- Children’s products, furniture, and other consumer goods with hidden hazards.
These are only examples. What matters is not the label on the box, but whether the product was unreasonably dangerous and caused injury.
Proving a defective-product claim
The single most important step after a product injury is to keep the product itself. Do not throw it away, return it, or let anyone repair it. The item is often the central piece of evidence, and losing it can weaken an otherwise strong case.
It also helps to save the packaging, the manual, the receipt, and anything that shows when and where you bought it. Photographs of the product and of your injuries are valuable. In many cases, engineers or other specialists examine the product later to explain how and why it failed.
Companies often argue that a product was misused or altered after it was sold. Careful preservation of the evidence protects your account of what really happened.
The Nevada laws that shape a product liability case
Several Nevada rules can decide how a product liability case turns out.
Deadline to file. A claim for a physical injury generally must be filed within two years of the injury (NRS 11.190(4)(e)). If a defective product also damages your property, such as a fire that harms your home, a longer three-year deadline can apply to that property claim (NRS 11.190(3)). Some product injuries are not obvious right away, and when the clock starts can depend on the facts, so it is wise to speak with a lawyer promptly.
Shared fault. Nevada uses a rule called modified comparative negligence (NRS 41.141). If you are found partly responsible, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. You can still recover as long as your share is not greater than the combined fault of the parties you are suing. If your share is 51 percent or more, the claim is barred.
When a product causes a death. If a defective product leads to a death, Nevada’s wrongful death law (NRS 41.085) allows the close family members, as well as the representative of the person’s estate, to bring a claim. That claim can seek categories such as the family’s loss of support and companionship and the estate’s medical and funeral costs.
Punitive damages. In limited situations, when there is clear and convincing evidence that a company acted with fraud, oppression, or malice, Nevada allows additional punitive damages meant to punish serious misconduct. These are not available in an ordinary case.
What a product liability claim may cover
Every case is different, and no lawyer can promise a specific result. Depending on the facts, a Nevada product liability claim may seek compensation for categories such as:
- Medical bills, both past and future
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical care and rehabilitation
- Property that was damaged by the product
- In a death case, funeral and burial costs and the family’s losses
These are categories of possible compensation, not a prediction of value. What a claim is worth depends on the specific facts and the injuries involved.
How VK Law handles Nevada product liability cases
VK Law (Vaksman Khalfin, PC) represents injured people across Nevada, California, and New York. Product cases often place one person against a large company and its insurer, and they usually require a careful look at how a product was designed, built, and sold.
Our team works to preserve the product, identify every company that may be responsible, and build a clear account of how the defect caused your injury. We handle Nevada product liability claims on a contingency fee, which means you only pay us if we reach a settlement or win a verdict.
The first conversation is free. There is no cost and no obligation to learn where you stand.
Talk to a Nevada product liability lawyer
If a defective product injured you or someone you love, you do not have to sort it out alone. VK Law will review what happened, explain your options in plain terms, and handle the pressure of dealing with the company and its insurer. Call 877-780-4727 for a free, confidential consultation. You can also explore our full range of Nevada personal injury lawyers and related claims, including Nevada slip and fall lawyer cases.
Reviewed by Robert B. Vaksman, Esq., Partner, Vaksman Khalfin, PC. Last reviewed July 2026.
This page is general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Product liability is the area of law that lets someone injured by a defective product seek compensation from the companies that made or sold it. In Nevada, these claims often rely on strict liability, which focuses on whether the product was unreasonably dangerous rather than on whether the company was careless.
You generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit over a defective product in Nevada (NRS 11.190(4)(e)). If the product also damaged your property, a three-year deadline can apply to that part of the claim. Because some injuries are not obvious at first, it is best to ask a lawyer early.
Usually not. Under Nevada's strict product liability rule, you generally must show the product was defective and unreasonably dangerous when it left the company's control, and that it caused your injury during a foreseeable use. You do not have to prove the company knew about the problem or acted carelessly.
You may still recover. Nevada follows modified comparative negligence (NRS 41.141). Your compensation is reduced by your share of fault, and you are barred only if you are more at fault than the parties you are suing, combined. Being partly responsible does not automatically end a claim.
Yes. A defective product often passes through a manufacturer, a component maker, a distributor, and a retailer before it reaches you. Depending on the facts, several of these companies may share responsibility. Identifying each of them early can matter, because each may carry separate insurance.
Keep it. Do not throw it away, return it, or have it repaired. The product is often the most important evidence in the case. Save the packaging, manual, and receipt as well, and take photographs of the product and your injuries if you can.
Almost any product can be involved, from auto parts and appliances to medical devices, power tools, and children's goods. The question is not the type of product but whether it was unreasonably dangerous and caused injury when used in a way the maker could reasonably expect.
Nothing upfront. VK Law handles product liability cases on a contingency fee, so you only pay us if we reach a settlement or win a verdict. The first consultation is free, with no obligation, so you can learn your options at no cost.
