Product Liability Claims in Ontario: When Defective Products Cause Injury

February 17, 2026, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

Product Liability Claims in Ontario: When Defective Products Cause Injury

As consumers, we expect the products we use every day to be reasonably safe. When a defective product causes injury, Ontario law provides avenues for compensation through product liability claims. These cases can be complex, often involving multiple parties and technical evidence, but they play a critical role in holding manufacturers and distributors accountable.

Product liability claims in Ontario typically arise from one of three issues: design defects, manufacturing defects, or failure to warn. A design defect exists when a product is inherently unsafe even when manufactured correctly. A manufacturing defect occurs when an error during production makes a product dangerous. Failure-to-warn claims involve inadequate instructions or warnings about foreseeable risks.

To succeed in a product liability claim, an injured person must prove that the product was defective, that the defect caused the injury, and that damages resulted. Unlike some jurisdictions, Ontario does not impose strict liability in all product cases, meaning negligence must be established.

These claims frequently require expert evidence. Engineers, safety specialists, and medical professionals may be needed to explain how the product failed and how the injury occurred. Documentation such as recall notices, testing records, and compliance standards can also be central to a case.

Product-related injuries can overlap with other areas of law, including workplace injuries outside WSIB or catastrophic injury claims. Acting promptly also helps ensure limitation periods are met.

You may also find these related topics helpful:

• Understanding Limitation Periods in Ontario Personal Injury Claims
• Workplace Injuries Outside WSIB: When a Lawsuit Is Possible

To learn more about liability-based injury claims, check out the website. If you've suffered a serious injury due to product negligence, give our highly experienced team a call today, or use the online contact form, and we'll contact you.

About Deutschmann de Koning Law

Deutschmann de Koning Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann and Nick de Koning focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.ddinjurylaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.