What Is Product Liability And How Does It Affect Your Case

June 24, 2016

If you’re hurt using a product you bought at a retail location or other store, you likely want to be compensated for your medical bills and know that others won’t be hurt by the same product’s defects. What is product liability, though, and how will it affect your case?

What is product liability?

Product liability describes the legal rules for defining who is responsible if a defect or dangerous product injures a consumer. For example, when a manufacturer produces goods with defects that a consumer then buys, that consumer could be injured. The victim could then file a complaint and lawsuit against the manufacturer seeking compensation for his or her injuries.

Who can be held liable for injuries?

Several parties could be held liable besides the manufacturer. For instance, the manufacturer may work with another company to obtain component parts; if those are defective, then that company could be held liable. The assembling party could also be liable in some cases, as could the wholesale or retailer who sold the product to the consumer.

Are there different kinds of product defects?

There are three kinds of product defects. The first is a design defect, which is present from the beginning of the product’s design. The second is a manufacturing defect, which takes place during manufacturing. Marketing defects, which are ways the product is marketed incorrectly (through improper labeling or insufficient instructions, for example,) can also result in problems for consumers. Any of these are possible causes for a lawsuit.