Types of Product Liability
Product liability is a broad umbrella term for claims that stem from a dangerous / defective product. However, it is clear that not every product defect is similar. In fact, there are many differences regarding what can cause a product to malfunction or cause injury. What they have in common is the manufacturer’s obligation to your safety.
The following is a list of the top defective product categories:
Famous Liability Cases
Failure To Warn
Some of the most well-known product liability cases in legal history are “failure to warn” cases, which hinged upon manufacturer knowledge regarding their products.
Big Tobacco’s failure to warn users about the cancer-causing nature of cigarettes in the 1960s led to an initial wave of product liability suits, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that companies like Philip Morris and others were taken to task for their part in causing lung cancer in 1000s of smokers.
The cases flooded courts around the nation, leading entire state governments to sue the four “majors” for failing to disclose to consumers smoking’s addictive nature. Documents revealed that company officials knew about cigarette addiction and lung cancer risks, but did not share this information with federal officials or buyers. A portion of the money secured in trials against Big Tobacco went toward informing the public about the health risks of smoking.
Asbestos manufacturers also faced severe litigation for knowingly endangering their workers. They caused illness and death for workers for decades before being brought to justice. Incriminating evidence revealed that many employers forbade their workers from speaking about or reporting lung issues, which indicated their knowledge about asbestos exposure. Thanks to product liability cases, hundreds of thousands of workers and their families received the care and resources they needed for the rest of their lives, and countless others were spared the effects of asbestos exposure.
