When the term “defective product” is used, many people immediately think of a product that is not put together correctly, such as if a product suddenly comes apart and causes injury. Under the law, products can be defective in many ways, including the following:

• The product may present an unreasonable risk of danger, even if used correctly. The product may have a design flaw or otherwise present a serious risk of harm, even if the user takes reasonable precautions in operating the equipment. As an example, some cars were manufactured with gas tanks in a position where they would explode easily in even a very low impact rear collision. While the gas tanks operated correctly in normal circumstances, there is nothing that a driver could do to prevent an explosion if they were hit from behind.
• The product may not have adequate safety features. In past years, industrial equipment, particularly equipment involved in cutting, failed to have basic safety guards to protect workers, which often could have been included in the design for a small cost.
• The product may be defective due to inadequate safety instruction. Products that may be inherently dangerous should always come with clear instructions concerning safe operation. When products fail to contain such information, they may be considered defective.
• The product may have not been correctly assembled by a seller or properly installed by an installer. In some cases a product may be safe if properly assembled or installed; however, if the assembly and installation are not done properly, the product may be defective.

These are only some of the ways that products may be defective.