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At Edwards Injury Law, we established our local personal injury law practice to help accident victims obtain the compensation they deserve. We accomplish this goal through our focused diligence, creative strategizing, and compassionate approach. Above all, we seek to uphold justice for our clients and ensure that their needs and goals are met during the personal injury claims process.
To learn more about how we can impact your case, consider contacting our Charlotte-based law firm today.
Defective Auto Parts Accident Statistics
According to a report from the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, over 3,000 accidents happened in 2020 alone due to defective vehicle equipment. Of these accidents, at least 20 fatalities were recorded, and another 800 injuries occurred as a result. While these accidents are not excessively common, they still do occur on a regular basis and, in some cases, result in serious injuries or death.
What is a Safety-Related Defect?
Title 49, Chapter 301 of the United States Code for Motor Vehicle Safety defines motor safety as the performance of a vehicle or equipment in a way that protects the public from unreasonable risk of accidents due to the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle.
A defect is essentially an issue that exists within the motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that poses an unreasonable risk. Defects are typically found among vehicles of the same design or manufacture. Fortunately, it is possible to find information about recalls and safety issues online from the comfort of your home.
Where to Find Information on Recalls & Safety Issues
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains a database of safety issues and recalls, wherein a person can use their vehicle’s VIN to search for recalls and defective auto parts. This can be a helpful tool for avoiding potential accidents and injuries caused by defective auto parts.
Similarly, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has a similar tool to help individuals identify recalls before they become an issue on the road. These are two valuable sources of information on vehicle recalls and safety issues.
What Are the Most Common Types of Defective Auto Parts?
Auto part defects can be either safety-related or non-safety-related. Non-safety-related issues include air conditioners or radios that operate improperly, or ordinary wear on equipment that must be inspected and maintained periodically, for example.
Some of the most common safety-related defects in auto parts include the following:
- Issues with steering components, causing partial or total loss of control
- Leaking fuel system components that make a vehicle susceptible to crash damage
- Breaking or sticking accelerator controls
- Wheels that break or crack, causing loss of control
- Engine cooling fan blades that break unexpectedly
- Failures in windshield wiper assemblies
- Seats failing to work under proper conditions
- Wiring system problems
- Improper airbag deployment
- Defective safety buckles, belts, or other components
Any time a critical component of the vehicle breaks, falls apart, or separates from the vehicle, this may be considered a defective auto part. Chiefly, if the defect causes loss of control of the vehicle or poses a risk of injury to those inside or outside the car, it can be considered a major safety issue.
When a person purchases a vehicle or a vehicle part, they are entering into an agreement with the manufacturer that the product meets minimum safety standards. As such, the manufacturer may be held liable for any injury resulting from defective auto parts.
Who is Legally Liable for a Defective Auto Part Injury?
Unlike a typical car accident claim, which focuses on a driver’s negligence, these types of cases often involve holding large corporations accountable. Depending on the specifics of your case, there are a variety of parties who could be held liable for your injuries.
- The parts manufacturer: The company that designed or manufactured the specific part that failed
- The vehicle manufacturer: The automaker could be responsible if there was a defect in the overall design of the vehicle or if a part was incorrectly integrated
- The dealership or retailer: If the dealer sold a vehicle with a known defect, failed to disclose that, or installed a part incorrectly, they could be held responsible
- Other supply chain parties: A wholesaler, distributor, or mechanic who negligently repaired a vehicle could also be named in a lawsuit for a defective part
In these cases, determining fault is a specialized area of law called product liability. This legal framework is particularly powerful because it often operates on the principle of strict liability.
This means that you often don’t have to prove that the manufacturer was careless or negligent. Instead, we only need to prove two things: that the product was unreasonably dangerous due to a defect and that the defect was the direct cause of your injuries.
Navigating the Defective Auto Parts Claims Process in Charlotte
After suffering an injury due to defective car components, it can be overwhelming to also start thinking about filing a claim to get compensation. These cases, unlike typical car accidents, which focus on driver negligence, require holding powerful manufacturers and other companies accountable.
This is why working with an experienced injury lawyer near you is so vital, as they can help navigate the complexities of the case and get you the justice you deserve.
There are a couple of key steps of the auto claim process that our team can help walk you through:
Prioritize Safety & Secure Key Evidence
Your safety and the preservation of any important evidence are vital right after an accident. Therefore, it’s key that you:
- Seek medical attention and documentation of it
- Preserve the vehicle and don’t repair or dispose of it
- Document the scene
- Collect information from witnesses and exchange insurance information
Investigation & Evidence Gathering
Defective part claims require specialized investigation to determine the defect and its causation. This process can include:
- Securing accident reports from police or any other investigation documents from local Charlotte authorities
- Collaborating with automotive experts such as accident reconstructionists, engineers, or other specialists who can examine the vehicle. Their examination can help determine the defect and what caused it – whether design, manufacturing, or failure to warn (aka a marketing defect).
- Researching and recalls or complaints that align with the defect
- Calculating full damages across medical bills, lost wages, future medical needs, paid and suffering, or any other economic or non-economic damages to determine the full compensation that you are entitled to
Identifying Liability
In defective-parts cases, there may be multiple responsible parties, unlike a typical car accident case. These could include the vehicle manufacturer (or car company), the parts manufacturer, the dealership or retailer, or any distributors or wholesalers in the chain of commerce. Our lawyers work to identify and pursue claims against whoever is accountable for the defect.
Negotiations and Litigation
Car manufacturers and parts suppliers have their own legal teams and vast resources. Attempting to negotiate with them on your own, with your own legal support, can be daunting. A lawyer can handle:
- Communication with any corporate legal teams and insurance adjusters
- Sending a demand letter for your compensation
- Engaging in any negotiations
- Filing a product liability lawsuit if negotiations fall flat
- Conducting the discovery process using written questions and depositions (sworn testimony) to get information from the opposing side
- Representing you at trial if necessary
Seeking Compensation with Edwards Injury Law
Experiencing an injury from defective auto parts can be incredibly scary, leading to devastating physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Many times, the ability to collect compensation from a product manufacturer depends on the evidence available in the case.
For this reason, it is important to act quickly following an accident and collect relevant evidence as swiftly and carefully as possible. Juggling mounting medical bills, emotional distress, and physical injury can make this difficult, however, leading many to seek professional legal assistance.
At Edwards Injury Law, we have experience evaluating accident reports, reviewing evidence from the scene of the accident, and determining which parties can be held accountable for defective auto part crashes. Leveraging our extensive knowledge of personal injury law, we have successfully navigated these cases for our clients.
To learn more about how we can help you or your loved one secure compensation following a defective auto part-related accident, consider contacting our office today.