How do juries decide product liability cases?

Juries are responsible for deciding product liability cases in Washington. The jury is usually asked to decide whether the product was defective, if the manufacturer should have known of the defect, and if it caused the plaintiff’s injury. In order to make these decisions, the jury looks at the evidence presented in court and considers the testimony of experts. Generally, the jury must determine whether the product was defective, which means it had a flaw that made it dangerous and not fit for its intended use. If they decide it was defective, the jury must then determine whether the manufacturer or provider of the product should have known of the defect. Evidence presented in court, such as documentation of customer complaints, expert testimony, and product designs can help the jury determine if the manufacturer should have known of the danger. Finally, the jury must determine if the defect caused the plaintiff’s injury. Here, the jury must assess the evidence to determine if the plaintiff’s injury was directly caused by the product defect and if the injury would have been prevented had the product been safe. In some cases, the jury may also have to decide if the plaintiff was negligent in any way. At the end of the process, the jury must make a final ruling based on the evidence presented. If they decide the manufacturer is liable, the jury then has to determine the amount of compensation the plaintiff will receive. The jury must also determine if the plaintiff is entitled to punitive damages.

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How do juries decide product liability cases?

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