The biggest mistake is assuming a product was "just dangerous" when the real problem was that your particular one came off the line wrong. That can cost money, because a product liability claim based on a manufacturing defect is different from a design defect claim, and the proof is different too.

A manufacturing defect means the product's design may have been fine on paper, but something went wrong while it was being made, assembled, packaged, or inspected. In plain terms, the item that injured you was not built the way the manufacturer intended. Think of a cracked ladder rung, a missing safety bolt, contaminated medicine, or a tire with a bad belt that should not have passed quality control. The defect usually affects one unit, a batch, or a production run, not every version of the product.

This matters because the claim often turns on the condition of the actual product. Do not throw it away, repair it, or let an insurer haul it off before it is documented. Photos, packaging, serial numbers, receipts, and any recall notices can make or break the case.

In Wyoming, a manufacturing defect claim can be reduced if you share fault under modified comparative fault, and barred if you are 51% or more at fault. The general deadline for a personal injury lawsuit is usually 4 years, so waiting too long can sink an otherwise strong claim.