Who can be held liable for a product defect?

When a product is found to be defective, a variety of parties may be held liable for its damages. Under dangerous products law in North Carolina, the manufacturer of a product, the designer of a product, the producer of a product’s components or subparts, and the retailer that sold the product may all be held accountable. A manufacturer’s liability for a product defect can range from a design defect to some form of negligence like a failure to properly test or inspect a product. The designer of the product can be liable for a design defect if it is proven that the design was unreasonably dangerous. The producers of a product’s components or subparts can be held responsible for an issue caused by an individual part or subpart. Additionally, a retailer who sold a defective product may be liable for the damages caused by the product. In some instances, more than one party may be held liable for damages caused by a defective product. When this happens, the parties are typically required to pay a portion of damages based on their individual contribution. For example, if a product is found to have a design flaw and a defect caused by a component or subpart, then the manufacturer and producer of the component may both be held liable. It is important to understand that when a product is found to be defective, any party involved in the production or sale of the product may be held responsible. It is therefore important to speak with an attorney if you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product in North Carolina.

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