What is necessary for a plaintiff to maintain a strict products liability claim?

To maintain a strict products liability claim, a plaintiff must demonstrate that there was a defect in the product which caused their harm. This requirement is fundamentally important to the claim because strict liability focuses on the condition of the product itself rather than the conduct of the manufacturer or seller.

In strict products liability, the key consideration is whether the product was defectively designed, defectively manufactured, or did not include adequate warnings or instructions. The plaintiff does not need to prove that the manufacturer was negligent or that they breached any warranties; rather, the emphasis is on the inherent dangers posed by the product itself. If the plaintiff can show that the product was defective and that this defect led to their injury, they have established a foundational element of their claim.

This approach serves policy purposes by encouraging manufacturers to ensure the safety of their products and providing a remedy for injured consumers without requiring proof of fault. Other options would imply a need for negligence or warranty-related issues, which are not prerequisites in a strict liability case. Thus, the focus remains solely on the defect and its causal link to the harm experienced by the plaintiff.