Proving Fault in a Product Liability Case

If you've been injured by a defective or dangerous product, you may have an easier time recovering compensation for your injuries than those who are injured in other ways. This is because special rules and theories of recovery have been developed in the area of product liability law.

A person may recover against a manufacturer or seller based on one or more of the following theories: strict liability, negligence, and breach of warranty depending on the law in the applicable state. Proving fault in a product liability case rests on the legal doctrine of strict liability, which is discussed in detail below.

This article discusses how to prove fault in a product liability case.

Strict Liability Defined

Ordinarily, to hold someone liable for your injuries, you must show that they were careless. That is, they were negligent, and their carelessness led to your injuries. With products sold to the general public, however, it would be extremely difficult and prohibitively expensive for one individual to have to show how and when a manufacturer was careless in making a particular product.

The consumer can't be expected to prove whether the seller or renter of a product had a proper system for checking for manufacturer defects. They also can't be expected to prove whether the seller caused the defect after receiving the product from the manufacturer. Finally, a consumer can't be expected to check each product before using it to see if it's defective or dangerous.

For all these reasons, the law has developed a doctrine known as "strict liability." Strict liability allows a person injured by a defective or unexpectedly dangerous product to recover compensation. They can recover from the manufacturer, distributor, seller, or anyone in the chain of commerce without showing that the individual or company was actually negligent.

Here's how strict liability works:

If you've been injured by a consumer product, you're entitled to compensation from the manufacturer or business that sold or rented the product directly to you. Strict liability operates against a non-manufacturer who sold or rented a product only if it's in the business of regularly selling or renting those particular kinds of products. In other words, if you bought something at a flea market stall, garage sale, or thrift store that sells all kinds of things, but not any one type of item on a regular basis, strict liability may not apply.

Proving Fault and the Rules of Strict Liability

Regardless of what steps a manufacturer or seller says it took in making and handling a consumer product, proving fault in a product liability case doesn't require a showing of carelessness on the part of the manufacturer or seller if all of the following conditions exist:

1. The product had an "unreasonably dangerous" defect that injured you as a user or consumer of the product. The defect can come into existence either in the design of the product, during manufacture, or during handling or shipment;
2. The defect caused an injury while the product was being used in a way that it was intended to be used;
3. The product hadn't been substantially changed from the condition in which it was originally sold. "Substantially" means in a way that affects how the product performs.

Manufacturers' and Sellers' Defense: Awareness of the Defect

Manufacturers and sellers have a defense to claims of strict liability. This defense may be particularly important if you've owned the product for a while. So, you may not be able to claim strict liability if you knew about the defect but continued to use the product anyway.

If it appears that you were aware of the defect before the accident -- either from the condition of the product (which the manufacturer's or seller's insurance company will have a right to examine) or from your description of your use of the product -- but used it anyway, you may have given up your right to claim injury damages.

Get an Attorney for Your Product Liability Claim

If you or a loved one have been harmed by a dangerous or defective product, time may not be on your side. Depending on a number of factors, you may need to take immediate action.

An attorney can help you in the process of proving fault in your product liability claim. Have your claim analyzed by an experienced attorney.