Who is primarily responsible under product liability law?

Under product liability law, manufacturers and suppliers hold the primary responsibility for ensuring that the products they produce or sell are safe for consumers. This legal framework holds these parties liable for damages caused by their products if they are found to be defective or unsafe.

The rationale behind this is that manufacturers have control over the design, production, and quality control of their products, and thus are best positioned to foresee potential hazards and ensure compliance with safety standards. They owe a duty of care to consumers to provide products that are free from defects in design, manufacturing, and labeling.

This principle applies even if the manufacturer exercises a high degree of care in the production process because strict liability can be imposed for defective products regardless of the level of caution exercised. Consequently, should a product cause harm due to a defect, the manufacturer or supplier may face legal repercussions regardless of intent or negligence.

In contrast, while end consumers, retail customers, and government regulatory agencies play important roles in the product lifecycle, they do not carry the same level of direct responsibility under product liability laws. End consumers are typically the recipients of the product, retail customers act as intermediaries, and regulatory agencies enforce standards but do not produce or supply products themselves.