Where to Begin When a Defective Vehicle Caused Your Injuries?
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Summary: Most car accidents are the fault of one or more drivers involved in the crash. However, in some cases, car crashes are caused by defective parts on at least one of the vehicles. According to the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey, approximately 44,000 of the 2.2 million accidents reviewed in the survey were somehow related to vehicle defects.
Injuries from an automobile accident can be extensive, leaving you with high medical bills, chronic pain, and even disability. When a defective vehicle is responsible for the injuries you sustained in a crash, you have options.
Types of Vehicle Defects
Nearly any part of a vehicle can be defective. Some defects can have a significant effect on the operation and safety of the vehicle. Some of the most common examples of defects that can be responsible for causing a crash or contributing to injuries in a crash include:
- Malfunctioning airbags, such as an airbag that fails to deploy, deploys when it shouldn't, or deploys too quickly and/or forcefully.
- Weak roofs that collapse in the event of a rollover.
- Uncontrollable acceleration.
- Tire failure, which can lead to loss of control of the vehicle.
- Power steering failure, which changes the amount of force required to maneuver a vehicle and may lead to a crash.
- Brake failure, which makes it impossible to stop the vehicle when necessary.
- Malfunctioning seatbelts that may come unbuckled or break during an accident.
- Electrical system defects, which may cause a vehicle fire.
How Defective Vehicles Cause Injuries
There are two main ways in which a defective vehicle or auto part can cause injuries in a crash. In one scenario, a defective part on the vehicle causes the accident that leads to injuries. For example, the tire may blow out or the brakes may fail, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. In the second scenario, the defects on the vehicle cause the injuries in the crash to be more serious than they should have been. Examples include a collapsed roof during a rollover or a failed airbag.
Taking Action after an Accident
If you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident that was related to a defective auto part in any way, you may be able to recover compensation. It is the responsibility of vehicle and parts manufacturers to make sure that the products they distribute are reasonably safe and that warnings are included for any dangers associated with the vehicle or parts. If dangers are discovered later, manufacturers have a responsibility to make consumers aware and take the appropriate steps to resolve the issue.
When manufacturers fail to uphold any or all of these duties to consumers, consumers who have been injured as a result can take action. Manufacturers can be held liable for all of the expenses related to the accident and the injury, including your medical bills, the cost of future medical care, wages lost at work during recovery and expenses related to any ongoing disability you may have developed. You may also receive additional compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced as a result of the accident.
To pursue a successful personal injury claim after an accident involving a defective part or automobile, it is best to consult an attorney who has experience in this area.