Steps to Take After A Car Accident Caused by Manufacturing Defects

Sometimes a car accident results from one of the vehicles in the crash suffering a mechanical issue or failure due to a manufacturing defect in the vehicle or a part used in the vehicle. Although vehicle safety and reliability have greatly increased over the past few decades, auto defects still occur, affecting tens of thousands to millions of vehicles at a time. These defects also cause accidents that result in serious property damage and physical injuries. 

Common Vehicle Manufacturing Defects That Cause Car Accidents and Injuries

Although any part necessary to the operation of a vehicle may suffer a defect, certain types of car parts are more frequently the subject of a design or manufacturing defect. Examples of common car defects include:

• Seatbacks, which may collapse or fall backward in an accident due to defective manufacturing or use of cheap and inadequate materials
• Gas tanks, which may leak after a car crash and cause a fire if not positioned correctly in the vehicle and equipped with safety measures such as shutoff valves
• Tires, which may suffer tread separation or blowout due to manufacturing defects or defects in the tire materials
• Airbags, which can inappropriately deploy, fail to deploy in an accident, or have defects with the inflator that can cause shrapnel to fly into the passenger cabin
• Seat belts, which can have issues with the stitching or the metal latch that prevents the belt from holding an occupant in place during an accident
• Child car seats, which may have issues with being properly secured or holding the child in place

What to Do after a Car Accident Caused by a Vehicle Defect

If you suspect that you were involved in a car accident that was caused by a vehicle defect, the most important step you can take is to have the defective vehicle inspected by a mechanical expert before the vehicle is repaired or junked. In addition, you will want to ensure that data from the car’s electronic data recorder, or “black box” is copied. The EDR will record information about the vehicle’s operation, speed, driver inputs, seat belt use, airbag activation, etc.

What Are Your Rights and Options?

If you have been injured by a car crash that resulted from a vehicle defect, you may be entitled to recover financial compensation for:

• Past, ongoing, and future medical expenses to treat the injuries you suffered in the accident.
• Long-term care costs required for permanent disabilities that result from your injuries
• Lost income when you miss work to recover from an accident, and/or lost future earnings and benefits if you cannot return to work because of injuries or disabilities
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment or quality of life

Parties that you may be able to hold responsible to compensate you after a car crash caused by vehicle defects include:

• The car’s manufacturer
• The manufacturer of the defective part, such as the tire or brake manufacturer
• An auto mechanic or auto shop that knowingly or recklessly installed a defective part into the car

Contact a Perth Amboy Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at CourtLaw represent clients injured because of car accidents in East Orange, New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, Newark and throughout New Jersey. Call (732) 442-5900 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 163 Market St., Perth Amboy, NJ 08861, as well as offices in New Brunswick, Roselle, East Orange, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Linden, Newark, Paterson, South Amboy, Trenton.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.