What is the difference between negligence and strict liability in product liability law?

Negligence and strict liability are two different types of product liability laws in Washington. Negligence is a type of liability in which the manufacturer is found responsible for damages caused by a product they created, even when they did not intend for the product to cause harm. This means that, even if the manufacturer exercised reasonable care in the design and manufacture of the product, they can still be held responsible if that product ends up causing harm. Strict liability, on the other hand, is a type of liability where the manufacturer of a product can be held liable for damages caused by the product without need to prove that the manufacturer was negligent. This type of liability holds the manufacturer strictly liable for any injuries that occur due to the product, regardless of whether the manufacturer acted with care or not. The main difference between negligence and strict liability is that the former requires the plaintiff to prove that the manufacturer was negligent and the latter does not. Negligence requires evidence of the standard of care that the manufacturer did not meet, while strict liability does not require such evidence. In Washington, product liability laws often employ both negligence and strict liability in order to provide more protection to consumers.

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