Is a company liable for product defects that were caused by a third party?

In Maryland, a company may be held liable for product defects that were caused by a third party. This is known as products liability law. Under this type of law, a company that manufactures, designs, or sells a product has a legal responsibility to make sure that the product is safe and free from defects. This means that even if the defect was caused by a third party, such as a part supplier or a contractor, the company that sells or manufactures the product can still be held liable if the product is found to be defective. For example, if a product manufacturer does not adequately inspect the parts or materials used in creating their product and a defective part is used that causes the product to malfunction, the manufacturer may still be held liable for the defect. Similarly, if a contractor installs a defective component in a product, the manufacturer of the product may still be held liable for the defect, even though the contractor was the one who caused it. In order to avoid being held liable, companies must ensure that they have appropriate safeguards in place to prevent such defects from occurring. This includes ensuring that vendors and contractors are appropriately vetted and that parts receive adequate inspection prior to installation. Companies should also regularly inspect products for defects and take appropriate action when a defective product is discovered.

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