Law and Diving

Under what circumstance is a manufacturer, designer, or vendor of a product legally responsible when the product malfunctions, or fails to perform to specifications? Or, under what circumstances or conditions may a designer, or inventor of a product be held accountable should the product be designed in such a manner as to render it hazardous to the consuming public?

These questions take on special importance in light of the life-sustaining characteristics of dive equipment. In few other activities, save aviation or sky-diving, does a participant in a recreational activity so heavily rely upon a consumer product to sustain life through its use.

The area of the law which addresses instances of product failure is known as products liability law. While specific legislation may vary from state to state the general legal doctrine remains constant nationwide.