Countless car accidents occur each year because of driver error, but many others occur when manufacturers make mistakes. Product defects are far more common than you may think, and they often cause some of the most devastating crashes and catastrophic injuries.
If you suffer an injury because of a defective product, you can take legal action to pursue compensation from the negligent manufacturer. Below, we will explain some scenarios in which defective products can cause severe crashes and your rights to hold a manufacturer accountable for the damages you sustain.
Here are some of the things we will help you understand below:
- What is an automotive product defect?
- How does an automotive product defect result in a crash or harm?
- What can I recover in a product defect case?
Sustaining injuries because of a product defect can result in years of hardships. The more you take steps towards your own recovery, the better it is for your quality of life. Our team at Briggle & Polan, PLLC is ready to work for you and safeguard your rights.
What Is an Automotive Product Defect?
Product defects occur in many different industries, from electronics and prescription medications to chemicals, toys, and construction items. Unfortunately, they can cause thousands of injuries every year. Still, those involving motor vehicles can be some of the most severe because they often lead to high-speed crashes or certain elements of a vehicle not working correctly.
Typically, many crashes involving automotive product defects involve recalled items that have caused numerous other collisions. The Consumer Product Safety Commission helps to show what vehicles have a recall order, but it’s crucial for those with the vehicles to follow the orders. When they don’t, they can cause harm.
A product recall often tells vehicle owners that their specific make and model has a problem. Typically, the recommendation is for vehicle owners to take their car or truck into a certified dealership to fix the underlying issues. In some cases, the recall may take the vehicle off of the market completely.
In any case, an automotive product defect can be anything that prevents the vehicle from working as it should. Brake failure, defective airbags and seat belts, bad steering systems, defective tires, and more can all be causes of severe crashes.
How Does an Automotive Product Defect Result In a Crash or Harm?
In some cases, the crash itself is a result of a manufacturer’s negligent actions. In some cases, driver error may still cause a crash, but the product defect is the reason that you suffer severe injuries. You should recognize the ways in which these crashes happen to have a better understanding of what options you have and who you can hold accountable.
These are some of the scenarios involving product defects and car crashes:
- You approach a red light and stop as you would. The vehicle behind you approaches at a normal rate of speed. They go to brake, but it doesn’t work. As such, they’re unable to stop and rear-end you. In this situation, the brake failure can be the direct cause of the accident. Driver negligence may occur if there was a recall because of the brake failure, but the vehicle owner didn’t maintain the vehicle.
- Another driver crashes into you, and your airbags deploy. However, they deploy incorrectly, and it results in shrapnel flying all over the vehicle. You sustain lacerations and severe injuries. In this situation, the other driver may still be negligent, but the severity of your injuries may be because of the auto defect.
- You’re driving along the highway, and your tire blows out, causing you to lose control. You later find that your tread separated despite the tires being newer. You may hold the tire manufacturer accountable and retailers who pass off used tires as new.
While it’s easy to point fingers at another driver for a crash, you should know that it’s not always the case. Speaking with a lawyer can help give you a better idea of who is accountable and what options you may have to pursue compensation.
What Can I Recover In a Product Defect Case?
Seeking compensation after a crash involving defective products means taking the necessary steps to maximize the strength of your claim. The more you can show a product defect, the more likely you can have a successful claim against the manufacturer for causing your harm. Here are some of the damages you may be able to recover after a product defect and accident.
- Economic compensation: The term economic compensation refers to money your recover based on the out-of-pocket expenses associated with your injury. This compensation is usually easier to determine because there are direct values you can use to show your losses. For instance, you may recover economic compensation for the following:
- Medical bills: While your health insurance may pay for some of your medical expenses, you may pay specific costs out of your own pocket. You can show how much you spent using the receipts from the hospital.
- Lost income: If your injuries are significant enough to keep you out of work for any period of time, you can include your lost income in your claim. Pay stubs can show your losses, and your legal team can potentially use this amount to determine future lost wages.
- Property damage: You may pursue compensation for the damage to your vehicle because of the product defect. The amount you pay for repairs or replacement may factor into your recovery.
- Non-economic compensation: Non-economic compensation covers damages that don’t have monetary value, such as your pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. Pursuing non-economic compensation is often dependent on how well your legal team can position your case. The stronger your representation, the more you can show your losses and pursue the full amount of compensation available to you.
Keep in mind, when pursuing compensation after an automotive product defect, you are often up against a large corporation and insurance adjusters focused solely on protecting profits. Because of this, you want to be sure that you have the strongest legal team on your side to pursue the compensation moving forward.
At Briggle & Polan, PLLC, we commit to protecting your rights through some of the most complex legal matters. We know how insurance adjusters use various tactics to reduce and deny claims, but we work hard to safeguard you. We know that certain problems can arise throughout the process, and because of this, we go above and beyond to be the trusted advocates you need.
Our Austin car accident lawyers know that several crashes occur each year due to manufacturing oversights. We don’t let these companies get away with their negligence. In fact, we have held countless negligent parties accountable for their actions in the past, and if these issues continue, we’ll do our part to put justice in your corner. Trust that with our team, you can feel confident about what comes next.
Ready to discuss your case in a free consultation? We encourage you to get the legal help you deserve. Call our firm today at (512) 400-3278 and get an award-winning team of trial lawyers in your corner.
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