Product liability law focuses on who is at fault for damage caused by products. Various individuals and entities participate in the manufacturing process, and product liability law examines everyone involved. With standard physical products, the manufacturing chain often begins with the makers of product parts and ends with the retailers who sell the completed items to the public. However, product liability law also encompasses products that fall under a broader definition of the term, such as natural resources, animals, publications, and real estate.
Proving that a product has a defect in its design, its manufacturing process, or its marketing is a key aspect of product liability law. Once a product is proven to be defective, the individuals responsible for the flaw must assume liability and take the proper steps to address any harm done to consumers. In legal terms, product liability is classified as a strict liability defense. This means that the people responsible for the error must be held liable, regardless of the safeguards they put in place to avoid product defects.