Mark Roman | May 16, 2017 | Car Accidents

Most auto accidents are caused by driver error, which means that victims typically hold the at-fault driver liable for their damages. Not all accidents are caused by driver negligence, however. In some cases, defective and unsafe auto parts can lead to critical malfunction or failure that causes car accidents. When a defective auto part is found to be the cause of a crash, victims will need to pursue compensation from the company that manufactured and / or provided them with the defective component.

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers has decades of combined experience fighting for the rights of injured car accident victims, including those harmed by defective products. Because we understand product liability laws and how auto part manufacturers handle personal injury claims, we are able to provide the insight and counsel victims need to effectively file a claim and maximize compensation.

Defective vehicle components have the potential to cause a number of complications that may interfere with a vehicle’s critical functions or a driver’s ability to control their car, which can greatly increase the risks of accidents. Common defective car part personal injury cases include:

  • Tires – Defective tires pose substantial risks of accidents. When a tire is defective, it may be prone to degradation that can affect steering. It can also lead to blowouts, which can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles and crash, especially at higher speeds.
  • Airbags – Airbags are one of the most important vehicle safety features we have, but when they are defective, they put victims at risk of suffering serious injuries. Over the years, there has been ample coverage about faulty airbags that deploy too late or fail to deploy entirely. Defective airbags may also fire too forcefully or explode and expel shrapnel.
  • Brakes – Brakes are essential to stopping, slowing, and avoiding collisions. When brakes fail or malfunction, the results can be devastating, especially for drivers who may be traveling at high rates of speed or in traffic.
  • Other defects – There are numerous other auto part defects that can and have caused accidents. Among others, these include, steering defects, SUVs prone to rollovers, seat belt failure, acceleration defects, exploding gas tanks, and ignition switch defects that may cause an engine to shut off.

Auto makers, product manufacturers, distributors, and others who make products available to consumers have a legal duty to ensure the auto parts and components they make and release to the public are safe for their intended use. However, errors in the process of producing the product can make them inherently unsafe:

  • Design defects – Some auto parts are inherently dangerous as a result of the way they were originally designed. If the design of a product or part was flawed, victims will need to prove that a safer alternative was feasible and possible at the time of production and that the product itself is unreasonably dangerous.
  • Manufacturing defects – Manufacturing defects are common, and they occur during the actual making of a product. When there is poor workmanship, poor quality materials, poor oversight, and poor testing, defective products can find their way onto the market.
  • Marketing defects – In some cases, injuries are caused when product manufacturers fail to properly warn consumers about potential hazards. These claims require proof that a part or product posed dangers that were not obvious to a reasonable consumer.

When it comes to pursuing a personal injury case for a defective auto part, the unique facts of your accident will dictate who can be held at fault. Commonly, this will be the manufacturer of a defective product. In some cases, however, it may be a distributor that provided you with an auto part they knew or should have known was defective. Additionally, you will need to establish fault and liability by showing that the manufacturer or distributor failed to uphold its legal duty of taking reasonable measures to protect consumers’ safety, that their negligence and the auto part defect more likely than not caused you harm, and that you suffered damages as a result.

Contact the Clearwater Car Accident Law Firm of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today

For more information, please contact the legal team of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation with a car accident lawyer in Clearwater. We have four convenient locations in Florida: Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.

We serve throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 787-2500

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Congress Ave Office
2360 Congress Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 591-5610

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 686-7588

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655
(727) 815-8442