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Dangerous and defective products cause thousands of injuries every year in the U.S. These products include all sorts of consumer goods, running the gamut from children's products to consumer electronics and vehicles. Product liability laws are based on the the premise that companies generally have a duty to protect consumers from potential hazards. Courts have held that manufacturers generally have more insight and knowledge about their products, so it falls to them to assume financial responsibility for any injuries or damage they cause.

An Ordinary Consumer's Expectations

Product liability laws vary from state to state and they differ from ordinary personal injury laws, with their own set of rules and procedures. These laws provide the victims of dangerous products with legal recourse for injuries suffered.

A product is typically required to meet the ordinary expectations of a consumer. When a product has an unexpected defect or danger, the product cannot be said to meet those expectations. Depending on the type of defect, any number of different parties may be held liable for the injuries caused by a defective product.

Types of Product Defects

There are three types of defects that might cause injury and give rise to manufacturer or supplier liability: design defects, manufacturing defects, and marketing defects. Design defects are present in a product from the beginning, even before it is manufactured. Here, something in the design of the product is inherently unsafe. Manufacturing defects occur in the course of a product's manufacture or assembly. Finally, marketing defects are flaws in the way a product is marketed, such as improper labeling, insufficient instructions, or inadequate safety warnings.

Defenses to Product Liability Claims

One defense often raised in product liability cases is that the plaintiff has not sufficiently identified the supplier of the identified product. A plaintiff must be able to connect the product with the party or parties responsible for manufacturing or supplying it.

Another defense is that the plaintiff substantially altered the product after it left the manufacturer's control, and this alteration caused the plaintiff's injury. A related defense is that the plaintiff misused the product in an unforeseeable way, and that his/her misuse of the product cause the injuries.

Product Liability Lawyers

Product liability actions are often quite complex, and establishing legal fault can require the assistance and testimony of experts. There are several theories under which a plaintiff might bring a claim, as well as defenses that might defeat such a claim.

In addition, every state has its own laws and specific statutes that will affect a product liability action. Accordingly, it is important to consult an experienced attorney if you or a loved one suffers injury caused by a potentially defective product.

Use FindLaw's Product Liability Center to learn more about a wide variety of pharmaceutical product injuries, defective medical devices, auto related product injuries, toxic chemicals and materials. There is also a wide array of resources on design defects, manufacturing defects, defects in warning, and much more.

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