When it comes to legal claims, there are three types of product defects: Design: These are flaws inherent in the product’s design. In these cases, the designer or manufacturer is liable for failing to create a safe product. In some states, plaintiffs must show that risk could have been avoided if the manufacturer used a reasonable alternative design that was feasible to produce. Manufacturing: These defects occur during the assembly or manufacturing process, despite the product’s design being safe. These unsafe products do not perform as they were intended to based on the product’s design. Manufacturing defects are the most common cause of products liability claims. Marketing: These include problems with the instructions or warnings that accompany the product. If consumers do not understand how to use a product and become injured as a result, the manufacturer may be liable for those injuries.