Legal Definitions - consumer-expectation test

The consumer-expectation test is a method used to hold manufacturers liable for their products if the product's danger is greater than what a reasonable consumer would expect. This test is also known as the consumer-user-contemplation test.

For example, if a consumer purchases a toaster and it catches on fire during normal use, the manufacturer may be held liable if it is determined that the danger of the toaster catching on fire was greater than what a reasonable consumer would expect from a toaster.

This test is different from the risk-utility test, which considers whether the benefits of a product outweigh its risks. The consumer-expectation test focuses on what a reasonable consumer would expect from a product in terms of safety.