What Kinds of Defective Car Equipment Can Lead to Accidents?

What Kinds of Defective Car Equipment Can Lead to Accidents? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration[1] (NHTSA), there were more than 2.3 million people injured in motor vehicle accidents during 2013. While most statistics[2] indicate that the vast majority of accidents are caused by driver error, a significant number are the result of defective vehicle equipment. Under the general principles of products liability[3] law, people who are injured in accidents caused by defective products are legally entitled to financial compensation for their injuries and other associated losses. Types of product liability claims Cases involving defective auto equipment and other consumer products generally fall into one of three categories, discussed below:

• Claims based on defective design – These kinds of claims allege that a product was designed in such a way as to make it unreasonably dangerous to use as intended. These kinds of claims usually apply to all instances of a product and have nothing to do with the quality of a product's manufacture.
• Claims based on defective manufacture – Defective manufacture claims allege that a particular consumer product was poorly manufactured, thus making it dangerous. This type of claim often alleges shoddy workmanship or poor quality materials.
• Claims based on marketing defects – These claims involve the plaintiff alleging that a product exposed consumers to nonobvious dangers that could have been easily mitigated with an adequate warning. They are often also referred to as “failure to warn” claims.

What kinds of defective vehicle equipment can lead to accidents? Cars are extraordinarily complicated machines that have thousands of parts that must operate correctly in order to a vehicle to function. In fact, many functions on modern vehicles are controlled by onboard computers that are capable of regulating certain functions and alerting the driver to potential problems. While cars and other motor vehicles are undoubtedly safer than they were in the past, when essential parts fail, serious accidents can occur. Some of the more common examples of the types of defective equipment that can fail include the following:

·       Brakes ·       Windshield wipers ·       Anti-lock braking systems ·       Cruise control systems ·       Accelerator pedals

·       Headlights ·       Taillights ·       Steering mechanisms ·       Tires ·       Airbags

Of course, there are many other parts that could potentially be defective and cause or contribute to an accident. In fact, in some cases, it may not be apparent to accident victims that a defect was at all involved in an accident. As a result, all accident victims should have their case reviewed by a Clearwater car accident attorney, even if they do not suspect that any type of vehicle defect played a role. Accidents caused by vehicle equipment defects can cause serious injuries Motor vehicle accidents that are the result of defective equipment are capable of causing extremely serious injuries. Some of the more common include the following:

·       Traumatic brain injuries[4] ·       Bruises ·       Soft tissue injuries ·       Accidental amputations ·       Lacerations ·       Sprains ·       Strains

·       Concussions ·       Spinal cord injuries ·       Nerve injuries ·       Crush injuries[5] ·       Broken bones ·       Dislocations ·       Muscle tears

These and other injuries that are often sustained in car accidents can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expense, if not more. Additionally, victims may be out of work for months or years. As a result, the economic losses associated with a car accident caused by defective equipment is often substantial. Additionally, victims often sustain significant non-economic losses as well, including pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life. Fortunately, an experienced attorney can often help victims recover for these and the other losses they experience.

Contact a Clearwater car accident attorney today to schedule a free case evaluation

Every year, motorists are injured through no fault of their own because of accidents caused by negligently designed, manufactured, or marketed vehicle equipment. These accidents often entitle victims to significant financial compensation for their economic and non-economic losses. The kinds of damages that are typically sought in a personal injury case arising from a car accident include medical expenses, lost income, property damage, loss of enjoyment of life, and physical and emotional pain and suffering, among others. The lawyers of the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA are committed to representing the legal rights of people who have been injured in preventable accidents. To schedule a free consultation with one of our Clearwater car accident attorneys, call our office today at 727-451-6900. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33756 727-451-6900 References: [1]  Traffic Safety Facts - Overview [2] https://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/blog/2013/12/human-error-cause-vehicle-crashes [3] https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/Products_liability [4] https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Traumatic-Brain-Injury-Information-Page [5] Crush injury