When a consumer misuses a product in a manner contrary to the instructions and warnings provided by the manufacturer, liability claims for design defects can be defeated. If the misuse was unforeseeable and contributed directly to the injury, the manufacturer might not be held liable because the product was not used as intended.
For example: A consumer uses a hairdryer in a bathtub against explicit warnings and suffers an electric shock. The misuse negates a liability claim as the manufacturer provided adequate instruction on the proper use of the product.