What is the legal definition of a “defective product”?

In Washington, a “defective product” is described by the Washington Product Liability Act as a product that “does not safely perform in accordance with the reasonable expectations of its ordinary users.” This means that the product should accomplish what it is intended to do, in the manner that it is meant to be used, and in accordance with the safety requirements of the product. It also includes products that may have functioned properly when it was sold but later became deficient because of some manufacturing or design defect. In other words, a defective product is any product that has been put onto the market, but fails to meet the standards of safety, performance, or other basic expectations placed on it by the consumer. The consumer may be injured or wronged in some way due to these deficiencies, and may have grounds to seek compensation. This could include medical expenses, wage losses due to inability to work, and even losses due to property damage. In certain cases, punitive damages may also be awarded as a result of a defective product lawsuit.

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What is the legal definition of a “defective product”?

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