#16 · 2026-08-22 · Legal term
Subsequent remedial measures
Federal Rule of Evidence 407 generally excludes post-event safety changes offered to prove negligence, culpable conduct, product defect, or need for a warning. It may allow another proper purpose, including disputed ownership, control, feasibility, or impeachment.
Rule to remember
Rule 407 restricts evidence of measures taken after an injury or harm that would have reduced its likelihood when offered to prove specified fault propositions.
Key elements and checks
- A measure was taken after the event causing the harm.
- It would have made that harm less likely.
- The proponent offers it for a forbidden fault purpose rather than a genuinely permitted other purpose.
In the source’s words
“But the court may admit this evidence for another purpose”
Federal Rule of Evidence 407
Rule 407 is a purpose-specific exclusion, not blanket inadmissibility. Other purposes remain subject to relevance and Rule 403, and state evidence rules may differ.