Car Defect Injury Claims

Most products are not made perfectly, but a defective vehicle component can potentially cause a fatal accident. Car defects pose safety hazards on the road because they can either directly contribute to a crash or fail to protect you from the impact of a collision.

If you’ve been hurt in a car crash because of a defective car component, you could be entitled to compensation from any liable parties. Understanding how to pursue a claim is essential to getting the resources you deserve to heal and be made whole. Learn more about defective products and how to file a liability claim.

What Kind of Defects Contribute to Car Accidents?

Errors typically happen during the design or manufacturing phase of car production. During the initial design stage, automotive engineers may overlook key safety precautions or design certain parts with unforeseen negative effects. Manufacturers can also make mistakes when installing or assembling various components. Both types of defects can result in unintended consequences that put car owners in jeopardy.

Common car defects include:

• Airbag Failure – Airbags are essential for protection, but when they fail to deploy properly during a car accident, you can suffer serious injuries. Some defective airbags can rupture when they are not supposed to, causing unnecessary bruises or burns. The Takata Corporation infamously instituted a nationwide recall on defective airbag inflators that affected 19 million vehicles.
• Brake Failure – Although complete brake failure is uncommon, deficiencies in the braking system can negatively impact performance. Things like oil contamination and misaligned brake linings can disrupt normal operation of your brakes. Your car may require greater stopping distance, and you may not be able to avoid an accident in time.
• Tire Blowouts – Tire blowouts can happen when your tire treads start to detach unexpectedly. Improper tread wear may cause rapid deflation and tire imbalance. If your tires blowout, you are likely to lose control of the vehicle.
• Seatbelt Malfunction – The seatbelt system was invented to keep you safe and buckled in at all times on the road. However, when a seatbelt unbuckles or breaks during the course of a collision, you can be ejected from your seat and critically injured.
• Roof Collapse – Modern car roofs are equipped with roll bars or cages to protect drivers during a rollover accident. When these parts fail to hold up, a resulting roof collapse can kill the driver and maim other occupants.

Who is Responsible for My Auto Defect Claim?

There could be several parties responsible for your defective automotive part claim. Many people are involved in the maintenance, sales, or designs of the product. Some of the more common defendants include:

• Manufacturer: the company that made your car is likely a large company who could be partly responsible for your accident because they created a product with defects or the chance for defects.
• Parts Manufacturer: if there is a specific part that had issues, or a company that built a replacement part for your car that breaks, you can pursue a liability claim for their contribution to your losses.
• Car Dealership: a car dealer is expected to inspect and vet the cars they sell, even if they’re receiving a fresh automobile directly from the manufacturer. If they didn’t thoroughly inspect the car, you could have a liability claim against them.
• Automotive Supply Shop: when you perform maintenance on your car, you might turn to a supply shop to keep costs down. However, if they provide a subpar product that is partially or wholly responsible for your injuries, you can bring a case against them for selling a dangerous part.
• Distributor: a distributor that doesn’t take care not to damage their products could be at fault for your crash, especially if that damage contributes to your accident. It might be the person transporting whole vehicles, replacement parts, or other dealerships. Anyone who isn’t carefully moving products in a way that could cause accidents when you take possession could be liable.

How to File a Product Liability Claim

In order to file a successful product liability claim, you’ll have to show the at-fault party was negligible, there was “strict liability” involved, or there was breach of warranty fitness.

Basically, you can show the person or company responsible for your losses breached a duty of care and you were hurt. Under strict liability, it doesn’t matter whether the defective product was intentional or negligent: you just have to show you were hurt. And a breach of warranty fitness means the product failed to work as guaranteed by its warranty.

After an accident, you should get medical attention as soon as possible. Your injuries could be more severe than you realize, and there could be hidden symptoms. A medical report will support your claim you were hurt by a defective product.

Next, find a Chicago personal injury lawyer who can help you build your case against all involved parties. They’ll help you investigate your accident and identify anyone who could share fault. They’ll also help you file a claim within the statute of limitations. In Illinois, you have two years after your accident to file a lawsuit. That sounds like a long time. It isn’t. Find help fast.

Find evidence and get your information. If you’re taking a case against a manufacturer or large car brand, they’ll have money and resources to fight your claim. You need all the help you can get to ensure you’re getting the money you need after an accident upturns your way of life.

Get a Chicago Defective Product Lawyer Now

In order to identify the liable party and substantiate your claim, you may need help from a knowledgeable product liability attorney. If you or someone you love suffered a car accident due to an auto defect, Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. can guide you through the entire legal process. We maintain a track record of success in supporting product liability victims, and we also provide a network of resources including technical experts to analyze your case.

Our attorneys serve clients throughout the Chicago area, including Aurora, Elgin, Hinsdale, Joliet, Naperville, and Waukegan. The Chicago personal injury attorneys at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. are 100 percent committed to fighting for the compensation that you and your family deserves. Call us today at (312) 236-2900 to set up a free consultation. Rest assured, we do not charge legal fees unless you win a recovery.