What is the “risk-benefit test”?

The “risk-benefit test” is a standard of fault used to determine the responsibility of a product’s manufacturer in the state of Tennessee. It is a method used to analyze if the good in question has more positive features to benefit the consumer than negative ones that put the consumer in danger. The risk-benefit test weighs the product’s usefulness and value versus the potential harm that can come from it. If the former is greater than the latter, it is considered an acceptable product. In order for a manufacturer to be found culpable in Tennessee under the risk-benefit test, the product or service must show a substantial risk of harm that outweighs the product’s benefits and utility. Harm may include physical damage, economic damage, or emotional distress. The manufacturer must have known or should have known of the risks posed by their product or service. For example, a defibrillator must have more benefits than risks in order to be acceptable under the risk-benefit test. If it is found to be dangerous or faulty, the manufacturer can be held liable if the risks taken to make the product outweighed its usefulness, even if the manufacturer was not negligent. The risk-benefit test is an important part of product liability law in Tennessee. It is designed to hold manufacturers accountable and ensure that consumers are well-protected from potentially dangerous products and services.

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