How does a plaintiff prove causation in a design defect claim?

To prove causation in a design defect claim in California, the plaintiff must demonstrate that a defect in the design of a product was the direct cause of the injury suffered. This means that the plaintiff must show that the product’s design flaw was the actual and proximate cause of their injury. The plaintiff must prove that it was the specific design of the product that caused their injury, and that the injury would not have occurred had the product been designed differently. The plaintiff must also prove that the product was used in a reasonably foreseeable manner. This means that the product must have been used in a way that was foreseeable given the nature of the product and its intended purpose. For example, if a chair was designed with a tall back and it collapsed when someone leaned back in it, that would likely be considered a reasonably foreseeable use of the chair. Finally, the plaintiff must prove that the injury would have been avoided if the manufacturer had designed the product differently. This means that the plaintiff would have to show that the injury did not occur due to the use of the product in an unexpected way, but rather that it was a direct result of the specific design of the product. In essence, to prove causation in a design defect claim in California, the plaintiff must demonstrate that a defect in the design of a product was the direct cause of their injury, that the product was used in a reasonably foreseeable manner, and that the injury would have been avoided had the product been designed differently.

How does a plaintiff prove causation in a design defect claim?

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