Product Liability Law
Product liability law provides the victims of dangerous products with legal recourse for any injuries suffered. Generally, a product is required to meet the ordinary expectations of a consumer. A product that has an unexpected defect or danger, doesn't meet consumers’ ordinary expectation. Depending on the type of defect, a number of different parties may be held liable for any injuries that result from the use of a defective product. For example, if a flaw in the manufacturing process creates a dangerous defect, the manufacturer may be held liable. This section includes a number of resources on design defects, manufacturing defects, defects in warning, and product liability law in general.
- What is Product Liability?
A look at product liability law, types of product defects, and the elements required to establish legal liability. Learn about design, manufacturing, and marketing defects as well as defenses to each theory.
- Product Liability Time Limits by State
A plaintiff who has been injured by a dangerous product must bring an action within the time period prescribed by the state’s statute of limitations. This section provides a list of the time limits for filing a product liability case in each state.
- Liability in Product Cases
There are several theories of liability upon which a product liability case may be based. This section explains some of the most common theories, including negligence, strict liability, tortuous misrepresentation, and breach of warranty.
- Defects in Manufacturing
Sometimes a flaw in the manufacturing process creates a dangerous defect. Strict liability generally applies in such cases. Learn about the elements of manufacturing defects and the “malfunction doctrine” in this section.
- Product Liability and Guns
An overview of product liability in cases involving gun injuries. Depending on the circumstances, the manufacturer, seller, distributor, or owner of a firearm may be held liable for a gun injury under a theory of product liability or negligence.
- Pharmaceutical Drug Liability
Pharmaceutical drugs sometimes have unforeseen, dangerous side effects. This section offers an overview of defective pharmaceuticals, drug manufacturers’ duty to warn, the time limits for drug liability suits, and much more.
- Are Product Liability Disclaimers Effective?
- Car Defects: The Concept of "Crashworthiness"
- Case Preparation Issues
- Defects in Design
- Defects in Manufacturing
- Defects in Warnings
- Legal Basis for Liability in Product Cases
- Medical Product and Device Defects
- Motor Vehicle Defect Cases
- Pharmaceutical Drug Liability
- Product Liability FAQ
- Product Liability: Background
- Proving Fault in a Product Liability Case
- Settling Products Liability Claims
- Time Limits for Filing Product Liability Cases: State-by-State
- What Is an Unavoidably Unsafe Product?
- What is Product Liability?