Defective product liability claims come in three forms, all of which require prosecuting parties to prove that a product defect directly caused an injury.
1. Defectively manufactured products derive from issues during manufacturing. The flaw makes a single product different from others of the same type. Examples include a contaminated batch of medicine and a cracked chain on a swing set.
2. Defectively designed products involve a flaw in an entire product line. Instead of an error occurring while a product is being created, the design itself is deemed dangerous. Electric blankets that burn users when set on high and a car model more likely to flip when turning a corner are examples of a possible design defect.
3. Lack of adequate warnings or instructions can create unexpected hazards when a consumer uses a product. Manufacturers must communicate all precautionary measures, especially those not obvious to the public. Examples of failure-to-warn claims include not letting a buyer know that an electric tea kettle possesses an oddly positioned steam valve or failing to provide sufficient safe handling and use instructions for a corrosive paint removal product.