What is the legal definition of a defective product?

In Washington, a defective product is defined as a product that has a flaw, which renders it dangerous or not fit for its ordinary purpose. This can include a flaw in the design, manufacture, or labeling of the product that either makes it unusable for its intended purpose or creates an unreasonable risk of harm. For a product to be considered defective, it must have a flaw that could not have been anticipated by consumers or industry experts and must have been present in the product at the time of sale or delivery. Furthermore, a product must be used in a manner that it was intended and under conditions that it was designed for in order for a product liability claim to be successful. In addition to design and manufacturing defects, Washington law also recognizes warning labels as being defective if they do not provide adequate warnings and instructions regarding the safe and proper use of the product and the dangers posed by improper use. Finally, it is important to note that a product can also be considered defective if a manufacturer fails to provide sufficient instructions regarding the proper use, installation, or maintenance of a product. This is especially true in the case of products such as automobiles or machinery, which require additional instructions and guidance to safely use and maintain.

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