Unlike most personal injury cases where you have to prove the defendant was careless or negligent, Oklahoma product liability cases often operate under strict liability. This means you don't have to prove the manufacturer was reckless or negligent — just that the product was defective, the defect existed when it left the manufacturer's control, and the defect caused your injury.
This is an important distinction. Strict liability exists because manufacturers are in the best position to ensure product safety, and consumers shouldn't have to bear the cost of defects they had no way to prevent or anticipate. Oklahoma courts established this principle in Kirkland v. General Motors and have expanded it over the decades to include not just manufacturers, but also distributors, retailers, and commercial lessors who place defective products into the stream of commerce.
That said, strict liability doesn't mean automatic liability. Manufacturers can raise defenses — including that you misused the product in an unforeseeable way, that you voluntarily assumed a known risk, or that the product complied with applicable federal safety standards. An experienced attorney knows how to counter these arguments and build the strongest case for your recovery.