When you are driving a vehicle, you may generally assume that it is safe—so long as no warning lights are on. Yet certain vehicles may be the equivalent of a ticking time bomb, plagued with one or more defects that could prove injurious or fatal should they cause an accident. Manufacturers must test for and eradicate any such defects but may have failed to do so for many reasons.
You may choose to bring a lawsuit if you or a loved one has suffered an injury, including a fatal injury, because of a vehicle manufacturer’s wrongdoing. An Arlington manufacturer defect accident lawyer may help you seek an outcome to your case that compensates you or a loved one for your losses. Call Loncar Lyon Jenkins today for a free consultation. We can explain more about how our Arlington car accident attorneys can help.
Types of Manufacturer Defects
If only drivers on Arlington roads knew the frequency of vehicle defects, they may think twice about getting in their cars. One might think that, since vehicles have been around for decades, the number of defects would be relatively small. However, that would be incorrect.
According to Consumer Reports, 2014 set an all-time record for car recalls, with a total of about 62 million vehicles recalled in the United States. That means roughly one in every four vehicles on the road at the time was the target of a safety-related recall.
Many of the recalls were not minor issues, either. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), some of the vehicle-related recalls that may put lives at risk include:
Accelerator Issues
Being able to accelerate and decelerate as needed is essential to driving safely. If the accelerator in a vehicle sticks or accelerates unpredictably, then a driver may strike another vehicle or object through no fault of their own. Similarly, if the pedal that controls acceleration breaks, then it could become inoperable and highly dangerous.
Tire-Related Defects
The tires on a vehicle are the mesh point between the multi-ton frame and hardware and the road. One cannot overstate the importance of tire performance, and tires may become dangerous if:
- They lose their tread more quickly than they should
- They crack in conditions where they should remain sturdy
- They are overly susceptible to puncture
- Their tread separates from the rest of the tire
- They are overly prone to blowout
Tire defect-related controversies have marred the reputations of major manufacturers in the past. If a tire defect caused an accident involving you or a loved one, the manufacturer could be responsible.
Safety Component Defects
No driver or vehicle occupant anticipates being involved in an accident, but even those who have a healthy fear of a collision may hold out hope that safety equipment built into a vehicle will protect them from serious harm. Some of the safety equipment that may be installed in a car include:
- Airbags
- Seatbelts
- Child safety seats
- Anti-lock brakes
- Traction control
Newer vehicle models may have safety features that are even more advanced than these. However, safety features must work as they should if they will save a life or prevent serious injury. When a safety-related product is defective, this may not be the case.
Whatever the specific defect that played a role in your accident, an Arlington manufacturer defect accident lawyer may be able to bring a case for fair compensation on behalf of you or a loved one.
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A Manufacturer Could Owe You Compensation
The Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) explains that, as vehicles become equipped with increasingly complex systems and technology, there may be greater opportunities for unforeseen problems. Vehicle manufacturers may have less foresight than ever into how their products could malfunction under real-world conditions.
If you or a loved one was injured because a vehicle or auto part manufacturer’s product was defective in some way, then they may owe you compensation. A personal injury lawyer may be able to make this case for you or a loved one.
In order to show that a defective product is responsible for your losses, your lawyer may:
- Show that the part in question did malfunction in some way
- Illustrate the sequence of events that started with the defect and led to your accident
- Explain how the accident has caused you or a loved one to suffer losses
In addition to making this case (perhaps in settlement negotiations, a written format, or at trial), your lawyer may provide other services as they represent you or a loved one. Those services may include the following.
Recreation of Your Accident
Recreating your accident could be an effective way to show how a defect led directly to your collision. A lawyer may collaborate with engineers or other expert consultants to explain how your accident occurred and how the defect specifically caused the collision. This can help us identify the responsible parties and pursue them for financial recovery.
Calculation of Your Losses
The question of how you have been harmed and how that harm has cost you may be front and center in your personal injury lawsuit. Some of the losses that you may have suffered and could be entitled to compensation for are:
- Pain and suffering: Your physical pain and emotional distress may warrant non-economic damages. We can also seek awards for loss of enjoyment of life and scarring and disfigurement.
- Lost wages: If you missed out on income due to taking time off work to heal, we can seek lost income. We can also pursue reduced earning capacity if you cannot earn your pre-injury income.
- The cost of repairing your vehicle: We can also seek awards for property damage.
- The cost of medical treatment for accident-related injuries: We can seek compensation for both your current medical bills and ongoing medical care.
- The cost of losing a loved one: Wrongful death damages can include funeral expenses, your loved one’s income, and their medical expenses.
Whether you bring legal action because of an injury or death, a personal injury attorney will conduct the necessary calculations to put a dollar figure on your losses. They will aim to account for your currently evolving losses and future losses. They can also counter an insurance adjuster’s determination of fault.
Call Loncar Lyon Jenkins Today for Your Car Accident Case Consultation
You or a loved one may be reeling from the consequences of a car accident, and an Arlington manufacturer defect accident lawyer may be able to work to restore financial compensation for your losses. We can guide you through the entire legal process while you heal from your accident injuries. Call Loncar Lyon Jenkins today for a free consultation.