Yes, in California, a manufacturer can still be held liable for injuries caused by a defective product, even with a disclaimer. This is due to the principle of strict liability, which holds manufacturers, distributors, and others in the product distribution chain accountable for injuries from defective products, regardless of disclaimers.
This applies to products with defective design, manufacturing issues, and inadequate instructions or warnings about potential harm. The intent is to ensure that manufacturers bear the cost of injuries from defective products, not the injured individuals who lack the power to protect themselves.
However, strict liability is not absolute. The manufacturer is not an insurer of product safety. It must be demonstrated that the defect caused the injury. This does not extend to defects arising from using the product with another product or replacement parts made by others, where the dangerous features of these parts were not integral to the original product's design.
Even with a disclaimer, a manufacturer could be liable, particularly if the product was placed on the market knowing it would be used without inspection for defects. The nature of the defect, the type of product, and the relationship between the injury and the defect are crucial in determining liability in each case.