Was Your Car Accident Caused By A Defective Vehicle Part Or Tire?
On average, over 16,000 car accidents occur every day in this country. While most collisions happen as a result of driver error, some crashes take place due to defective car components and equipment. Given that cars are now more technologically complicated than ever, there are more parts that could potentially fail and cause the driver to crash.
At Shevlin Smith, we have extensive experience handling all types of car accident cases. We take the time to meet with you to discuss the specifics of your situation and we conduct thorough investigative work to uncover the facts. Our Fairfax auto defect attorneys are committed to fighting for your rights and the just recovery you are owed.
Give us a call at 703-634-7350 to learn more about how we can help you. We offer free, no-obligation case evaluations.
Recent Vehicle Defects And Recalls
When a car part fails, it can lead to an accident that can cause serious harm and even fatal injuries to drivers and passengers. Unfortunately, there have been many instances over the last several years of defective vehicle parts causing harm to motorists. In fact, the recent Takata airbag recall has been called “the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history,” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Recently, Takata airbags have been of great concern due to a defect in design that could cause the airbag inflators to explode and cause serious injuries and death due to shrapnel flying into the vehicle cabin. These airbags are in many different cars made by 14 different auto manufacturers, and tens of millions of vehicles have been subject to recalls due to the potential safety defect. According to NHTSA, 28.8 million airbags are already recalled, over 8.1 million airbags have been repaired, and new information shows an additional 35-40 million inflators that will be recalled and repaired through 2019.
While these defective airbags are of great concern because they can seriously injure drivers and passengers, airbags have not been the only vehicle defect to cause injuries over the last several years. In fact, thousands of vehicles have been recalled due to seat belts, brake fluid, tires, and steering issues, just to name a few.
Who Is Responsible For Vehicle Defects?
If a defective car part or tire was the cause of your car crash and injuries, you may have a legal claim against the vehicle manufacturer, the designer or manufacturer of that specific part, or the tire manufacturer. While most manufacturers don’t set out to make vehicles with defective parts, many cut corners and do things like use the wrong materials, assemble the vehicle incorrectly, or make other manufacturing mistakes along the way.
Sometimes a part is designed incorrectly from the very beginning and is supplied to a vehicle manufacturer by a third-party source. When this is the case and a vendor’s part is the cause of an auto accident, that company can be held liable as a result of a defective design or defective manufacturing. Because there are many possible parties that could be held accountable for car accidents caused by defective parts, it is important that victims of such collisions seek legal help.
Beware Sending Defective Parts To The Automaker
When an automaker is made aware of your accident called by their defective part, they will likely reach out to you to request the part or the vehicle itself be sent to them. They will use the pretense that they want to investigate the issue and figure out what went wrong in order to help you. This is a little less than honest in most cases.
If you send the defective auto part to the automaker liable for the defect and the accident it caused, then you will be surrendering the best piece of evidence you might have in your claim. You will likely not have any chance to have the item returned to you at any point, so it will be impossible for you and your legal team to reexamine it. Before you allow the defendant to see and study any defective part, consult with our attorneys. We can help you decide what to do with the evidence you have gathered and when it is safe to share with the opposition.
Injured In A Car Accident? Call Shevlin Smith Today.
If you were injured or your loved one was killed in a serious car collision, contact the local Fairfax auto defect lawyers at Shevlin Smith. We are incredibly experienced and knowledgeable in this particular field and our entire team is dedicated to fighting for your rights throughout every step of the legal process. We regularly assist auto accident victims throughout Virginia and Washington, D.C.
For help holding the right company responsible for your car accident and injuries, please call us at 703-634-7350 to schedule a free consultation with a Fairfax auto defect lawyer.