Who is Liable in an Accident Involving Defective Auto Parts?

There are many causes for car accidents, including driver inattention, substance abuse, and traffic violations, to name a few. However, a less often discussed but just as real cause of car accidents involve defective auto parts.

There are two specific kinds of auto defects, and within those, there are a variety of common auto part defects that occur. If you or a loved one were injured or killed in an accident due to defective auto parts, you could be eligible to file a product liability claim against the company responsible for the unsafe piece of machinery.

There are two types of vehicle defects:

• Manufacturing defects: These occur when an auto part is thought to be defective due to some error in the manufacturing process. When the manufacturer is responsible for a defect in a vehicle, the defect most often affects just one auto part. In this situation, only the vehicle containing that auto part is thought to be defective, rather than the entire line of vehicles in that model.
• Vehicle defects: When these defects occur it generally means that the entire line of vehicles made with that design are regarded as defective. In this situation, it is the designer of the vehicle and not the manufacturer who is responsible for creating a vehicle in which the driver and/or passengers can not travel without unreasonable risk.

Some of the most commonly defective auto parts are as follows:

• Engine cooling fans
• Brakes
• Wiring systems
• Fuel system leakage
• Tires
• Accelerator controls
• Gas tanks
• Airbags
• Seatbelts

If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident in which one of the above or an alternate auto part defect contributed, talk to an attorney.

The majority of the attorneys that handle these cases work on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t be required to pay for their services unless they win your case. Even the consultations are free, so it’s a good idea to contact an experienced car accident attorney and explain your situation. Car accident attorneys are familiar with the variety of common and even uncommon auto part defects and will be able to identify whether the manufacturer or the designer is liable for your damages.

Additionally, these attorneys have access to expert resources that have the tools and know-how to recreate the accident using data to determine when and how the auto part defect came into play.

Victims can seek a variety of damages in a product liability claim. These damages include but are not necessarily limited to:

• Property damage
• Past, present, and future medical bills
• Wages lost due to the injury/recovery
• Rehabilitation and therapy
• Impairment of earning capacity
• Life care expenses as a result of the injury
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Any kind of expense which occurs as a result of the injuries sustained due to an accident caused or made worse by a faulty auto part can potentially be compensated for in a product liability claim. This includes loss of expected income and funeral expenses in the unfortunate instance that a victim dies of their injuries sustained in one of these accidents. If you or a loved one were injured or killed in a car accident that involved defective auto parts, seek legal counsel to learn what an attorney can do to help you and your family.