Should Consumers Bear More Responsibility?
The responsibility of product injury should be lifted off the consumers. Therefore, consumers should not be made more responsible for the injuries arising from the product. To support this position, it is important to put the understanding of the parties entangled in the product liability issue with criticality. One, the product is always a creation of the companies and consumers are normally not aware of a product until it is produced. Taking into account the point of view, it is paramount to highlight that the knowledge of the products mainly rests with the companies more than the consumers. In this respect, it is the responsibility of the company to ensure that products reaching the consumers are never defective and will not lead to any injury. As asserted in the notion that campaigns are always part of the products and stickers are normally on the products issuing warnings to consumers over the potential dangers of the products, it is important that the level of information of the consumers be questioned (Andre & Manuel). Consumers usually have little knowledge about the product and generally, very rarely would a company focus on a campaign that would bring the image of the product into disrepute.
Therefore, it is upon their understanding that a defective product does not reach consumers. Different factors sway a consumer towards a product. One of the many reasons is the promotion campaigns that companies launched on products. These campaigns are typically persuasive and captivating thus making potential customers to think about a product. The adverts are simple to comprehend and are within the understanding of many consumers. As a result, it makes it easy for consumers to decide for the product. Other factors like illiteracy also contribute to the purchase of products without knowing its side effects (Andre & Manuel). The companies would avoid putting the products on the market for consumers to avoid such injuries. Illiteracy makes it virtually impossible for consumers to read or understand the print warnings on the product thus; they are not to blame for injuries thus, should not be more responsible.
Should Manufacturers Bear More Responsibility?
Manufacturers are the experts in the product composition and thus, know what fits the consumers. The whole product chemistry is in their hands. With such level of expertise, it is hypocritical to produce products that spell doom to the clients. In this view, they should be able to conduct thorough research into the market to determine what is healthy for the consumers rather than bring defective products to the market. The potential dangers of such products should be the responsibility of the manufacturer that failed to bring a safe product to the market for consumers (Andre & Manuel). Also, the resource base of the manufacturers also gives them an advantage in conducting thorough research and avoids giving consumers products that are dangerous and likely to cause injuries. Therefore, they should be more responsible.
Is the current product-liability legal system broken?
The system is broken thus leaving numerous loopholes that can be exploited through prudence to win a suit. The costs of pursuing legal redress on issues of liability seem to high and morass thus making it difficult and economically unviable for pursuit. The hefty cost of liability makes it difficult for cases to be pursued and that kills many businesses and companies. The businesses that cannot afford the financial costs associated with such suits are in danger of becoming bankrupt as a result (Andre & Manuel). Many companies thus prefer that their cases are settled outside the system to avoid heavy financial burdens that accompany the cases. To solve the issue, the whole system should be radically changed and an overhaul of the done. It should be made to be affordable and without dire economic implications of the company. It will help restore confidence in the company. There is the need to normalize and make consistent the rules that govern these issues so as to have a benchmark for handling the cases.
Work Cited
Andre, Claire, and Manuel Velasquez. "Who Should Pay? The Product Liability Debate." 1991. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.
