Design defects, manufacturing defects, and marketing defects are the three main types of product defects. A person can file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer, seller, or any other liable party if he or she gets injured when using a reasonably safe product. The injured party will need an attorney to assess the product to determine whether it had a defect and when that defect occurred.
3 Types of Product Defects
Product Design Defects
These defects occur when the design of a consumer product makes it inherently dangerous. Product design defects are often not discovered until after a product has been sold and injured a consumer. Design defects in a motor vehicle’s brake system, for instance, can make it hard to control the car, increasing the risk of a fatal accident occurring. A consumer can hold the product designer and/or the manufacturer liable if he or she is injured by an inherently dangerous product.
Manufacturing Defects
These defects are rarely identified by consumers when buying products. A product design can be safe during the conception stages, but an error during the manufacturing phase can result in defective products that are harmful to consumers.
Manufacturers have a duty to produce and ensure their products are safe before releasing them to the market. They can be sued if their products inflict serious injuries on consumers. Manufacturing defects often occur due to the use of substandard materials and negligence.
Marketing Defects
Provision of inaccurate claims on product usage, incorrect labeling of a safe product, and failure to warn customers regarding potential dangers are perfect examples of marketing defects. These defects can cause serious injuries, especially if the product isn’t utilized as envisioned. A consumer can also hold a seller legally responsible when he or she buys a defective product, even if the seller wasn’t part of the design or manufacturing process.
Filing a Product Liability Lawsuit
If a person sustains injuries when using a product, he or she can file a product liability lawsuit against the liable party. Manufacturing companies have a legal duty to produce safe products that have proper labels and pose no threat if used properly.
An experienced personal injury attorney can help the injured party obtain maximum monetary compensation for any defective product that caused his or her injuries. The attorney knows the crucial evidence to gather to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the product in question had either a design or manufacturing defect.
