What are the elements of a product liability claim?

A product liability claim in Washington State typically requires four elements in order to be successful. The first element is that the product must have been defective in some way. This means that the product must have been designed, manufactured, or sold in a way that it could be expected to cause harm. The second element is that the plaintiff must have suffered damages from the defective product. This means that the plaintiff must have suffered some type of physical or financial harm due to the use of the product. The third element of a product liability claim is that the defendant must have acted unreasonably or carelessly when they designed, manufactured or distributed the product. This means that the company failed to provide a product that was reasonably safe for its intended purpose. The fourth and final element is that the plaintiff must be able to prove that their damages were caused by the defendants’ negligence. This means that the plaintiff needs to show that the defendant’s conduct was the direct cause of the harm that they suffered. If all four of these elements are met, then the plaintiff may be able to recover any economic or non-economic damages that were suffered, such as medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering. If a company fails to provide a safe product that lives up to the standards of reasonable care, then a claim for product liability in Washington State may be successful.

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