It's not the design, it's the quality of manufacture, and that has nothing to do with the Brand name.
If they make it cheap, it will fail. I've had both lockbacks and linerlocks from good makers and inexpensive makers fail. And others that have proven reliable.
If the lockback maker tempers the back lock in the same oven as the blade, it's too hard and will fail from fatigue. RC 56+ is too high and loses the springing qualities needed for long service. I've seen a lot of knives suffer that.
If the maker doesn't fashion the liner lock long enough, have it meet the lock notch close to parallel, and that notch is tapered to the wrong side, then any flex in the blade pin will walk the lock right out of engagement. I've have Bucks and Kershaws with that issue. I still have my fingers, too.
That goes to Never Trust A Lock Blade Folder. No matter what, it can and will fail. It's happened with the Axis, and it's happened with some very high end knives that carry some impeccable reputations. Google is your friend, surf it, you will come up with examples of many folders that can and did injure the owner.
In todays market, anything under $40 is suspect in that regard. It takes close visual examination and an understanding of how the lock is supposed to be fashioned in that specific style to begin accepting their reliability. Only long term use will prove it for that specific knife - and as it gets used, and wears, things change. It could become unreliable where before it was just fine.
If you have an application where the knife blade absolutely cannot fail on you, then get a fixed blade. That doesn't mean it won't cut you anyway. It's really all about operator skill, and anyone can make a mistake. Like, having the blade skip off the twig you are working and slicing a nice deep cut into your finger.
Any knife user can show you their scars. Like bikers who have never ridden their bike down on the pavement, it's not a matter of if, but when. I would say that user error is far more responsible for injury than mechanical malfeasance.
Buying a quality knife is just cutting down the odds. Not eliminating them.