What can you do when vehicle defects cause an accident?
Auto accidents often involve two or more vehicles. Yet, issues with your vehicle may have caused you to crash and experience injury. You may fear that you have limited options for recourse if other drivers were not involved. If your accident stemmed from vehicle defects, you may be able to hold certain parties accountable.
Making a claim
After your accident, you might be able to make a product liability claim to compensate for the damages your vehicle’s defects caused. This claim will be interpreted through strict liability doctrine.
Most liability claims require you to prove the negligence of another party. Yet, strict liability allows you to bring a claim against a product’s manufacturer or seller in the absence of carelessness. For your claim to be sound, in this case, you must prove that:
- The vehicle’s components or design were unreasonably dangerous
- The vehicle’s defects caused injury when used in a proper manner
- The vehicle remained in a similar state to its purchase
You can also make a product liability claim due to defective marketing. This claim applies in situations where the vehicle’s manufacturer or seller failed to warn you about any known dangers.
Determining liability
The defendants of your legal claim will depend on the circumstances surrounding your accident.
In some cases, one party – like a dealer, parts manufacturer or vehicle manufacturer – may shoulder clear and complete fault. Yet, multiple parties could be at fault depending on how you sustained your injuries or whether the vehicle’s defects stemmed from component or design issues.
To support your claim, you will need to gather as much evidence as possible from the accident. Vehicle inspections, accident reports and photos of the damage or your injuries can all help determine liability.
When vehicle defects go undetected, they can lead to serious injuries. Making a claim afterward can be complex, and a personal injury attorney can help you work through the process.