Products can cause harm in a variety of ways, and liability may fall on different parties depending on the circumstances:

• Electrical Fires and Explosions: Appliances, generators, or other electrical devices with defective wiring, fuel lines, or components can ignite fires or explode. Manufacturers, distributors, or retailers may all be liable if they failed to detect known hazards or neglected to issue recalls.

• Self-Assembly Accidents: Products requiring assembly, such as furniture, equipment, or machinery, can become dangerous if instructions are unclear or assembly is performed incorrectly. Liability may rest with the manufacturer or retailer responsible for providing adequate instructions or assembling the product.

• Children’s Products: Items intended for infants and children—like high chairs, cribs, or toys—must undergo rigorous safety testing. Defective products or poor assembly instructions can lead to severe injuries or fatalities, as children are especially vulnerable due to their size and lack of awareness of potential dangers.

• Foodborne Illnesses: Contaminated, spoiled, or improperly handled food products can cause widespread illness. Farms, processors, distributors, or retailers may be liable if proper food safety standards, refrigeration, or storage practices were ignored.

• Retailer Responsibility: Stores are responsible for monitoring product safety and ensuring that items on shelves are safe for purchase. Selling expired, damaged, or otherwise unsafe products can make retailers liable for any resulting injuries or illnesses.

These hazards illustrate how complex product liability cases can be, often involving multiple parties across the supply chain. Identifying the source of the defect is essential for holding the responsible parties accountable and protecting other consumers from harm.