Product Liability Litigation and the Role of Engineering Analysis
Product liability litigation arises from allegations that a product is defective in its design, manufacturing, or marketing. These claims can involve a wide range of consumer, industrial, and commercial products. In many cases, the outcome of litigation depends on a clear, technically sound understanding of how a product was designed, how it was manufactured, and how it performed in real-world use.
Engineering analysis plays a critical role in evaluating these claims. Through systematic investigation, testing, and reconstruction, engineers help determine whether a product defect existed and whether it contributed to an alleged failure or injury.
Understanding Design and Manufacturing Defects
Claims involving design or manufacturing defects are often well suited to engineering evaluation and product testing. A manufacturing defect typically involves a deviation from intended specifications. These defects may appear as improper materials, poor workmanship, or dimensional inaccuracies.
A design defect, by contrast, exists when a product is manufactured as intended but still presents unreasonable risks during foreseeable use. In some cases, these defects reveal themselves as simple component failures. For example, a bolt may fracture when a structure experiences a foreseeable dynamic load.
However, many modern products are highly complex systems. In these cases, failures often occur without any single component permanently breaking. Instead, the system fails to perform as intended due to unexpected interactions between components. Identifying these system-level failures requires detailed engineering analysis and experience across multiple disciplines.
The Challenges of Marketing Defect Claims
Marketing defect claims introduce additional complexity. These claims often center on allegations of inadequate warnings, improper instructions, or misleading representations. Unlike design or manufacturing defects, marketing defects may involve both the objective behavior of the product and the user’s expectations.
User perception and human factors can play a significant role. How a product is labeled, advertised, or explained may influence how users believe it should perform. Evaluating these claims requires careful consideration of product documentation, warnings, instructions, and foreseeable user behavior. Engineering analysis must be paired with an understanding of standards, regulations, and accepted industry practices.
ATA’s Evolution in Product and Systems Investigations
At ATA Associates, accident reconstruction has long been a core service. Over time, that foundation has naturally expanded into the investigation and analysis of product- and system-related incidents. This evolution reflects both the increasing complexity of modern products and the growing need for rigorous engineering support in product liability litigation.
Today, ATA’s work extends beyond reconstruction to include comprehensive product safety analysis. The firm investigates incidents involving individual components, integrated systems, and complete products across a wide range of industries. This expanded scope allows ATA to address both simple component failures and complex system interactions.
In-Depth Analysis Using Industry Standards and Data
ATA’s engineering and technical staff provide clients with in-depth analysis grounded in authoritative sources. Product information is evaluated using data and standards from organizations such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), ASTM International, and ANSI. Manufacturer documentation is also reviewed to assess design intent, specifications, and warnings.
This standards-based approach ensures that conclusions are technically sound and aligned with accepted practices. It also supports defensible opinions in legal and regulatory settings, where methodology and documentation are critical.
Product Testing to Verify Condition and Performance
When warranted, ATA performs product testing to verify condition, composition, and operation. Testing may include material evaluation, functional testing, dimensional inspection, and system-level performance assessments. These efforts help confirm whether a product meets its design intent and applicable standards.
Testing is especially valuable in product liability litigation, where objective data can clarify disputed claims. It allows engineers to move beyond assumptions and directly evaluate how a product behaves under specific conditions.
The ATA Technology Center: Purpose-Built for Testing
ATA’s testing capabilities are supported by a state-of-the-art facility. The 15,000-square-foot ATA Technology Center is designed specifically for inspection, testing, and reconstruction support. It includes an overhead crane, vehicle lift, electrical and compressed air systems, and exceptional lighting.
The facility also features a fully equipped fabrication shop and a broad array of tools and equipment. This environment provides a clean, safe, secure, and environmentally controlled workspace for complex investigations. Products can be instrumented and tested at both the component level and the system level, including dynamic testing where required.
Experience That Strengthens Product Liability Litigation
The analysis and evaluation of products at ATA are supported by more than 50 years of experience. This long history includes extensive testing, accident reconstruction, and investigation of product-related incidents. That experience allows ATA engineers to recognize subtle failure mechanisms and evaluate competing theories with confidence.
In product liability litigation, this depth of experience matters. Clear, well-supported engineering opinions help attorneys, insurers, and clients understand the technical realities behind alleged defects. ATA’s work supports both plaintiffs and defendants by focusing on facts, data, and sound engineering principles.
Engineering Insight You Can Rely On
Product failures can involve design decisions, manufacturing processes, system interactions, and human factors. Addressing these issues requires more than surface-level analysis. ATA Associates brings together technical expertise, testing capabilities, and decades of experience to support product liability litigation with clarity and precision.
Contact ATA Associates
If you need engineering expertise to support a product liability case, ATA Associates is ready to help. Contact ATA Associates today to learn how our product testing, analysis, and investigative capabilities can support your litigation needs.
