While drivers do make errors and may lose control of their vehicles, some collisions occur due to failures within the cars themselves. If you believe that a defective car part may have caused (or contributed to the causes of) your crash, there may be steps you can take to ensure you are compensated for your damages, injuries, and other hardships you have experienced.
Which Defective Car Parts Commonly Cause Accidents?
When possible, it’s important to identify what exactly went wrong with your vehicle. Pinpointing the source of the problem could help prove that you were not at fault. Consider a few car parts that have been known to fail and cause accidents:
- Power Steering Failure: When it is difficult to steer your vehicle, you could collide with a car or other obstruction.
- Brake Failure: With no way to slow down your car, you could be unable to prevent a high-speed accident.
- Airbag Issues: If your airbag deploys at a time when it is not needed, it could distract you and thereby lead to a crash.
- Electrical Issues: Problems with your car’s electrical system could lead to various issues, one of them being fires.
- Unexpected Acceleration: If your vehicle speeds up when you aren’t pushing the pedal, you could easily bump into a car or other obstruction.
As experienced injury lawyers can confirm, it isn’t always easy to tell when defective parts have played a role in the cause(s) of a crash. As a result, it is important to avoid making assumptions about what caused your crash until you’ve spoken with an attorney about your situation. You may be entitled to far more compensation than you have initially assumed.
Who Is Liable?
In many situations, defective parts are the responsibility of the manufacturer. If the manufacturing process went wrong somehow, you may be entitled to various forms of compensation. The company may be required to pay for a replacement vehicle, your medical expenses, and even lost income if you were too injured to work for a time. The manufacturer of a car part isn’t always to blame. Sometimes the designer is at fault for not correcting a design flaw. Similarly, your dealer could be responsible if a part was installed improperly.
What Should You Do Immediately After the Crash?
After attending to any injuries sustained during the accident, it’s critical that you take photos of the scene and ask for a copy of the police report. This way, you can gather any and all evidence pointing to the cause of the collision. Be sure to update your insurance company, as well, after speaking with an attorney. Acting promptly and proactively will help to ensure that your rights and interests are protected as you move forward.