Can a Manufacturer Be Held Liable for Faulty Appliances?

How Can a Product Be Defective?

A product is considered defective when it has some characteristic that prevents it from being used for its intended purpose. A defect makes the product fail to meet its expected standards of safety, quality, or reliability. There are three main categories of defects that a product may have.

1. Design defect: Some products may have an inherent design flaw, meaning that even if the item is manufactured properly it will still be defective. There could be an issue with a piece of the product or with the way it is engineered.
2. Manufacturing defect: These defects occur during the manufacturing process. While the appliance is being built and put together something goes wrong. If there is a lack of quality control or safety measures a product might go to market with a serious issue.
3. Failure to warn: Companies must provide information to the consumer regarding safe use and any potential dangers involved with the product. If there are no instructions or not clear enough warnings it could be considered a defect.

If any of the above apply to a product the consumer may have a valid cause to take legal action.

What Injuries Result from Faulty Appliances?

Faulty appliances can be extremely dangerous, especially when they rely on electricity. Whether it is a stove, toaster, television, hair dryer, washing machine, or more, related injuries can range from very minor to very severe. The following are some injuries that can result from an incident with a faulty appliance.

• Burns
• Shocks
• Lacerations
• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Death

While the appliances you use on a daily basis may not seem that dangerous, if they are defective they have the potential to cause irreparable damage.

Will the Manufacturer Be Held Liable for the Faulty Appliance?

Depending on the details of the situation the manufacturer may be held liable for the faulty appliance and any damage or injuries that it caused. Under product liability laws, manufacturers are legally obligated to take reasonable care to provide consumers with safe and reliable products. Consumers should be able to trust that the appliances they purchase will work as intended and not create hazards in their homes.

A manufacturer could be held liable and made to pay for any injuries or damages based on the following liability laws.

• Strict liability: Under liability laws manufacturers can be held liable for injuries and damages even if they are not found negligent. The only thing that needs to be proven is that the manufacturer was the one who created, sold, or distributed the dangerous product.
• Negligence: Negligent behavior during any part of the design, manufacturing, or distribution process can make a company liable for injuries and damages
• Breach of warranty: Any breach of a written or assumed warranty can cause a manufacturer to be held responsible.