What Is Consumer Product Liability?

Consumer product liability may sound complicated, but is a relatively simple concept. Essentially, it describes a company’s responsibility to create products that are safe for their consumers to use. Consumer product liability refers to what happens when those products are not safe and who is legally responsible for the resulting injuries.

It describes a whole subsection of law under which we decide who is responsible when a product malfunctions. This of course varies across cases, but if it can be proven that the product failed through no fault of it’s user, it is likely that it’s the liability of the manufacturer, the distributor, the marketer, or any other party involved in getting the dangerous product into the hands of consumers.

This is why we see large warning labels on so many of the products we buy. These warnings protect companies from lawsuits pertaining to these issues. Intentionally or otherwise, if you disregard the advice of the labels on a product, you are unlikely to gain compensation for any resulting injuries.

It can be difficult to discern who is responsible when a product is proven to have been dangerous. In some cases, it may be negligence in the manufacturing process and in others, the product may have been marketed for use in a dangerous way. Legal culpability can be a difficult concept, so if you’ve been injured by a product you purchased, it’s best to contact a lawyer to find out who might be responsible.

Most companies possess some sort of consumer product liability insurance to cover these sorts of situation. If sued for compensation, their premium may get much larger, but they will not be held responsible for the sum of the charges upfront.

Often times, people don’t realize they are entitled to this sort of compensation. We often chalk up these sorts of accidents to a stroke of bad luck, but it can be extremely important to realize who is responsible. Health care is very expensive and companies have insurance for these exact circumstances. Your medical bills shouldn’t be a burden for your shoulders alone if a company’s negligence is responsible for them.

Though it may seem like legal jargon, consumer product liability is relevant to anyone who buys anything. When you buy, you are trusting that the company has done everything in their power to keep you safe while using their products. If they fail do so, you have a right to legal action.