Auto Defects
New Jersey Defective Auto Parts Lawyers
Protecting the rights of clients injured by faulty or defective vehicle parts
No one expects to be in a car accident caused by defective auto parts or a vehicle defect. When you get into your car whether to drive, or as a passenger, you trust that everything is in working order and that you will arrive at your destination safely. When a part or system on a car breaks down at highway speeds, or the seat belts or air bags fail to provide protection in an accident, the most serious injuries and death can occur.
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by a defective auto part or component, or suffered injury or lost a loved one in an accident because the seat belt, air bag, or seat back failed to provide protection, talk to a New Jersey product liability attorney at the personal injury law firm of Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP.
Examples of motor vehicle defects
When an auto defect is the cause, injuries can result despite every safety precaution taken by the drivers and passengers involved. The following are some examples of the types of motor vehicle defects that can cause an accident, or contribute to making an accident worse:
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Automakers who have issued safety recalls on their vehicles
There is not a car manufacturer out there that has not issued a safety recall for one reason or another. Cars and other motor vehicles are complicated machines designed and built by humans, so there are bound to be errors occasionally. Some defects create much more of a hazard than others, but if the defect poses a threat to safety, the manufacturer or the NHTSA issues a recall. Here are some of the car manufacturers which have issued safety recalls:
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What is a safety recall?
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that a safety recall occurs when a motor vehicle part, or the vehicle itself does not comply with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, or when there is a safety-related defect in the vehicle or equipment.
An auto safety recall can be initiated by the NHTSA, or by the manufacturer. If the NHTSA has received too many complaints about an issue, it can compel the manufacturer to issue a recall. You can report a safety problem with a motor vehicle to the NHTSA online, and you can find out about current recalls that might be related to your vehicle by entering the VIN into their database at SaferCar.gov.
Injuries from accidents caused by defective auto parts in NJ
The severity of car accident injuries depends largely on the speed that the vehicles were traveling when they collided, the size and weight of the vehicles, the safety features of the vehicles, and a host of other factors. Whether the accident was caused because defective brakes failed to stop the vehicle, or because a defective steering system did not allow a driver to avoid a crash, the following are some examples of injuries that might occur in a car crash caused by a defective vehicle or equipment:
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Proving liability after an injury caused by an auto defect accident
After suffering an injury in a crash that was caused by a defective vehicle or defective parts either in your vehicle, or in the vehicle that caused the collision, you may have grounds for legal action to recover compensation.
To prevail in a products liability lawsuit for a defective vehicle or automotive parts, there are three elements that you as the plaintiff will be required to prove:
- The presence of a dangerous defect
- The vehicle was being used in appropriate way as the manufacturer intended (i.e. not drag racing)
- The vehicle was not significantly modified from showroom condition
The plaintiff must be able to prove a direct line of causation between the vehicle’s defect and the injury. If successful, you may be able to hold the manufacturer and other parties in the chain of commerce liable for your injuries and losses.
How do you know whether an auto defect contributed to your injuries?
Evidence at a crash site is often destroyed by fire or the impact of the accident. In injury claims related to motor vehicle crashes, there are extensive studies that can be used to determine the types and extent of injuries that often result from collisions. Certain types of injuries can reveal when a seat belt, an air bag, or a seat back failed, resulting in more serious injuries (or death) than would otherwise have occurred.
A product liability case against an auto manufacturer is a separate claim than a personal injury claim against a liable driver’s insurance company. Our firm aggressively pursues the maximum compensation that our clients are entitled to from manufacturers and other parties responsible for building, installing, and servicing the defective auto parts.
NJ product liability lawyers handling injury claims related to defective auto parts
From offices in Edison, Red Bank, and Toms River, our lawyers advise and represent clients in personal injury and wrongful death litigation matters throughout New Jersey. Call our office at 732-777-0100 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey product liability lawyer at an office nearest to you.
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