When you purchase a car or pickup truck, you expect the vehicle to function properly and the safety equipment in the vehicle to protect you in the event of an accident. Unfortunately, a car that has manufacturing or design defects jeopardizes the safety of the driver, passengers, and other motorists sharing the road.
Driving on California’s busy roads is dangerous enough in a safe car. Driving an unsafe vehicle can have catastrophic consequences. Millions of cars are recalled each year due to safety issues that can cause serious accidents. If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident caused by an automotive defect or faulty component, consult a defective product attorney in Newport Beach today.
At Sam & Ash Injury Law, we have years of experience helping accident victims in Newport Beach seek the compensation they need to rebuild their lives. We’ve seen again and again that attorneys who really care about their clients get better case results. We provide personalized legal service because we understand that every client has unique needs and goals. We’ll do everything we can to seek the outcome you desire.
Our hard work and dedication have helped us build a reputation for providing compassionate and quality legal representation. Talk to our Newport Beach auto defects attorneys to learn how our firm can help you seek the financial recovery you need. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Types of Vehicle Manufacturing Defects
Auto manufacturers are required to design and manufacture vehicles that are safe when used as intended and to warn of any known defects.
Product liability cases involving auto part defects usually involve one of the following three types of defects:
- Design defects – A defect in the design of a vehicle or vehicle part makes the vehicle dangerous to drive. Design defects may affect the entire production run of a vehicle and lead to a recall or re-design.
- Manufacturing defects – When the manufacturer doesn’t build a vehicle or part according to the intended design or uses defective materials, it can lead to an unsafe part or vehicle defect. A manufacturing defect may affect only vehicles or auto parts produced within a certain range of dates.
- Marketing defects – Marketing defects involve a failure to warn adequately of known or foreseeable risks.
It can be challenging to determine that a faulty component contributed to a car accident. A thorough investigation may be needed to identify the automotive defect. It may involve seeing a pattern of similar accidents involving a specific make and model of automobile. That’s why it’s important to work with a reputable law firm that has the resources to undertake a detailed investigation following a car accident. An experienced defective car lawyer at Sam & Ash Injury Law understands the steps necessary to identify whether a defective part played a role in an auto accident.
Common Car Defects That Can Cause a Car Accident
Some of the most common types of car manufacturing defects include:
- Airbag defects – Defective airbags can deploy in a more violent manner than intended, spraying metal shards in the passenger compartment and cause serious injury. The largest automotive recall to date involves defective airbags manufactured by Takata and installed in tens of millions of cars.
- Seat belt defects – Safety issues with seat belts include defective webbing, defective retractors, buckles wearing down over time, and false latching. If a seat belt has a design flaw or manufacturing defect, it can fail during a crash leading to serious injuries.
- Defective brakes – A brake failure can cause a driver to lose control and cause a crash. Brake failure can be caused by defective brakes such as faulty manufacturing of brake rotors, drums or pads or a manufacturer’s failure to install a brake shift interlock.
- Defective tires – Tires may experience tread separation or other defects, leading to blowouts. Many tires that have been the subject of recalls remain on the road and pose an accident hazard.
- Steering system defects – A defective steering system may lock up or fail to respond, leaving the driver helpless to avoid a collision.
- Defective roofs – When the roof of a car or SUV isn’t designed or built correctly, it may collapse in a rollover accident causing catastrophic or fatal injuries.
- Computer and electrical defects – These defects could cause a loss of power, engine failure, or loss of lights, any of which could lead to a collision.
- Transmission and engine defects – A defective part could lead to engine failure, which could cause a driver to stall or lose control of their vehicle.
- Headlight and taillight defects – Drivers rely on their headlights and taillights to see and be seen, and communicate their intent to other drivers. A headlight or brake light failure may cause a rear end, T-bone, or head-on collision.
Any serious vehicle defect may result in a car accident and severe injuries. If you suspect a defective part may have contributed to a car accident, have a Newport Beach attorney review the details of the accident and discuss your legal options.
How Often Do Defective Parts Cause Car Accidents?
Unfortunately, auto accidents caused by car defects are not uncommon. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests that two percent of crashes in the U.S. are caused by vehicle defects, resulting in tens of thousands of accidents each year. Some of the most common vehicle defects that lead to crashes involve tires and wheels, brakes, steering, transmission, and other engine-related problems.
According to a recent NHTSA report, there were nearly 900 vehicle-related defects and compliance recalls in a recent year, affecting nearly 55 million vehicles and products.
Injuries That Result from Defective Auto Parts
Vehicle manufacturing defects can cause significant injuries. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Facial injuries and dental damage
- Cuts and bruises
- Fractured or dislocated bones
- Back and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Burn injuries
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Psychological and emotional injuries
- Wrongful death
What Is California’s Lemon Law?
Under California’s Lemon Law, you may be eligible to get your money back or get a new vehicle if your vehicle has a warranty defect and cannot be fixed. If the automobile manufacturer cannot successfully resolve the vehicle’s defect in a reasonable amount of time or attempts, the car will be considered a lemon.
It is important to note that the law only applies to new vehicle warranties. If the car is purchased used, it may not be covered by the Lemon Law. To better understand California’s Lemon Law, speak with an auto defects attorney in Newport Beach.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Accidents Caused by Auto Defects in Newport Beach?
Multiple parties may be held legally responsible for accidents resulting from a vehicle manufacturing defect. They include:
- The vehicle manufacturer
- An auto part manufacturer
- Dealerships
- Mechanics
- Rental car companies
Determining who is responsible for the manufacturing defect is one of the most critical parts of a product liability case. It’s important to seek the assistance of a law firm with the resources to pursue a defective car part investigation. Our attorneys at Sam & Ash Injury Law can conduct a thorough investigation to help understand what caused your car accident and who should be held financially liable.
Discuss your case with a qualified defective product attorney right away.
Can You Get Compensation for an Auto Defect Accident?
After an accident caused by a vehicle manufacturing defect, you may be entitled to seek compensation for the various expenses and losses you incur, such as the following:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Pursuing compensation for your accident and injuries can be challenging. A California auto defects attorney at Sam & Ash Injury Law has the experience and resources to determine the fair value of your case and aggressively pursue the financial recovery you need to move forward with your life.
The attorneys at Sam & Ash will fight for you because you deserve What’s Right. If the insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement, we will be ready to take your case to court. We are not intimidated by large auto manufacturers. Let us handle your defective vehicle lawsuit and seek the compensation you need to get back on your feet.
Talk to Our Experienced Newport Beach Car Accident Lawyers
Accidents caused by defective auto parts are one of the more complex types of car accident cases. While coping with serious injuries, you should not attempt to take on auto manufacturers, dealerships, and other at-fault parties on your own. The dedicated attorneys at Sam & Ash Injury Law can guide you through every stage of a defective car accident case in Newport Beach while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
Let our legal team help get you on the path to recovery. Contact us today for your free case review.
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