Product Liability · Turkey
Injured by a defective product? Speak to a product liability lawyer in Turkey
Turkish product-related claims sit inside a codified civil-law system, with its own limitation periods, court language and cost rules. Understanding those rules early is what protects your position. We introduce you to a lawyer who handles defective-product disputes in Turkey.
- Claims framed in contract or in tort under the Turkish Code of Obligations
- Turkish-language proceedings, with certified translations where needed
- Free, confidential matching with no obligation to proceed
Free matching · Your details stay confidential · No legal advice given on this page
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Your situation
Defective products, injured consumers and the Turkish court route
A defective product can leave you with an injury, damaged property or a business loss that no one seems willing to take responsibility for. In Turkey, claims of this kind rest on a codified civil-law framework — principally the Code of Obligations (Law No. 6098), which was modelled on the Swiss Code of Obligations — and they may be framed in contract, in tort, or both, depending on your relationship with the seller or the manufacturer. Because the limitation clock starts running early, the first conversation matters. We match you with a product liability lawyer in Turkey who handles unsafe-goods and defective-product disputes, understands the Turkish-language court process and can tell you which evidence to preserve before anything else happens. Matching is free, confidential and carries no obligation.
How it works in Turkey
The Turkish legal framework around defective products
Turkey is a civil-law jurisdiction whose private law was received from Swiss models in the 1920s, so claims are argued from codes rather than from binding precedent. For a product-related dispute this means the wording of the applicable statute, and how the Court of Cassation has interpreted it, carry the weight.
Codified basis for the claim
The Code of Obligations (Law No. 6098) follows the Swiss Code of Obligations in structure. A defective-product claim is typically pleaded either as a breach of a contractual duty towards the buyer or as an unlawful act in tort towards anyone harmed by the goods. Case law from the Court of Cassation guides interpretation without formally binding lower courts.
Limitation periods set the pace
Tort-based claims must generally be brought within two years of the date you knew of the damage and the responsible party, and in any event within a maximum of ten years. Contractual claims carry a longer ten-year period. Which period applies depends on how the claim is framed, so early legal review is important.
Mediation before litigation
For commercial disputes concerning monetary claims and compensation, mediation has been a mandatory precondition to litigation since 1 January 2019 under Article 5A of the Commercial Code (Law No. 6102). A claim filed without first attempting mediation is dismissed on procedural grounds, so the route to court must be planned accordingly.
Who may act for you
Practising law in Turkey requires membership of a local Bar (Baro) and a licence (ruhname) issued on admission, with the Union of Turkish Bar Associations as the overarching public-law body under the Attorneyship Law (Law No. 1136). Representation is not generally mandatory at first instance, but professional assistance is the norm in commercial matters.
Language and documents
Turkish is the sole language of the courts: proceedings, filings and judgments are in Turkish, foreign-language documents need a certified translation and foreign public documents are generally legalised by apostille. A party who does not speak Turkish requires an interpreter appointed by the court, which affects how evidence is prepared.
Fees and cost exposure
Court fees follow the Fees Law (Law No. 492): a proportional judgment-and-decision fee of 68.31 per thousand of the amount in dispute, one quarter payable on filing, with the balance on judgment. In damages actions arising from death or bodily injury the advance is reduced to one twentieth. Lawyers’ fees follow a binding annual minimum tariff.
The information above is drawn from official Turkish legislation published on mevzuat.gov.tr, consulted at the time of writing; statutory rates and tariffs are adjusted periodically and should be confirmed for your case.
- Turkish Code of Obligations (Law No. 6098) — limitation periods
- Turkish Commercial Code (Law No. 6102) — mandatory mediation in commercial disputes
- Attorneyship Law (Law No. 1136) — admission to the profession and Bar membership
- Fees Law (Law No. 492) — court fees and advance payments
- Constitution of 1982 (Law No. 2709) — Turkish as the language of proceedings
- Code of Civil Procedure (Law No. 6100) — appeal period
- Labour Courts Law (Law No. 4857) — employment time limits
- Turkish Civil Code (Law No. 4721) — succession and renunciation periods
Common difficulties
Why defective-product claims stall
Most delays come from the same handful of practical problems, not from the merits of the case.
Evidence disappears early
The product, packaging, batch number, photographs and receipts are what a claim is built on. Once goods are repaired, returned or discarded, proving the defect becomes far harder — and inspections may need to be arranged while the item is still intact.
The wrong limitation period
Contract and tort routes carry different periods in Turkey, and tort claims are tied to when you knew of the damage. Pleading the wrong basis can shorten or even close the window, so the framing decision needs to be taken early.
Language and procedural steps
Filings, expert reports and hearings are in Turkish, and in commercial matters mediation must be attempted before a claim is filed. Missing those steps can lead to a claim being dismissed on procedural grounds rather than on its merits.
How we help
A calmer route to the right lawyer
You describe the problem once; we identify lawyers whose practice covers it and who work in your language.
Practise-area matching
We look for lawyers whose work actually covers defective products, consumer sales and damages claims, rather than general practitioners who occasionally take on such files.
Bar-registered professionals
Lawyers introduced through the platform practise through membership of a Turkish Bar with a licence issued on admission, so you know you are dealing with a regulated professional.
One short, structured form
You set out what happened, what was lost and what evidence exists. That gives a lawyer enough to judge whether the file is worth taking forward before you commit to anything.
Free and without pressure
Matching costs nothing and places you under no obligation. You decide whether to instruct the lawyer, and the terms of any engagement are agreed directly with them.
Cross-border context
Clients also compare these jurisdictions
Product incidents often involve suppliers, distributors or purchasers in more than one country. These are the jurisdictions clients most often ask us to compare with Turkey.
Questions
What clients ask before instructing a lawyer in Turkey
How do I find a product liability lawyer in Turkey?
Start by describing the incident, the loss and the documents you hold. We then match you with a product liability lawyer in Turkey whose practice covers defective goods and damages claims, and who can work in a language you understand. The matching service is free and you are not obliged to instruct anyone.
How long do I have to bring a claim in Turkey?
It depends on how the claim is framed. Tort-based claims are generally subject to two years from the date you knew of the damage and the responsible party, with an absolute ceiling of ten years; contractual claims follow a ten-year period. Because the choice of basis changes the deadline, this should be reviewed quickly.
Will the proceedings be in Turkish?
Yes. Turkish is the sole language of the courts, so filings, hearings and judgments are in Turkish. Foreign-language documents must be accompanied by a certified translation, foreign public documents generally require an apostille, and a party who does not speak Turkish needs an interpreter appointed by the court.
Do I have to try mediation before suing?
In commercial disputes concerning monetary claims and compensation, mediation has been a mandatory precondition to litigation since 1 January 2019, and a claim filed without it is dismissed on procedural grounds. Individual employment disputes have followed the same logic since 1 January 2018. Your lawyer will confirm how this applies to your file.
What costs should I expect?
Court fees are set by the Fees Law: a proportional judgment-and-decision fee of 68.31 per thousand of the amount in dispute, of which one quarter is paid on filing. In damages actions arising from death or bodily injury the advance is reduced to one twentieth. Lawyers’ fees are freely agreed but cannot fall below the annual minimum tariff.
What happens after a first-instance judgment?
An appeal to the regional court (istinaf) must be lodged within two weeks of notification of the judgment, which is a very short window and needs to be diarised immediately. Further review by the Court of Cassation may follow, so the timetable should be planned from the outset rather than at the end.
Next step
Tell us what happened, once
A short description of the product, the damage and the documents you still hold is enough for us to identify lawyers in Turkey whose practice fits your situation. No fees, no obligation, and no legal advice given on this page.