Defective Car Parts

Defective car parts and mechanical failure can contribute to or cause a car accident. If a crash occurs without an obvious external reason, you should retain an attorney who can investigate whether some component of the car caused the accident. The investigation is usually undertaken by an experienced accident reconstruction expert. If the investigator finds enough evidence to support a product liability claim, you may be able to recover compensation from the auto manufacturer. In some cases, it may be more appropriate to bring a claim against a mechanic or repair person who installed a car component that caused trouble, such as when the part had already been recalled or the component was installed properly. No matter the situation, Atlanta residents who have been involved in a collision can consult car accident lawyer Stephen M. Ozcomert to explore their options.

In some product liability cases, a defective car part caused the accident at issue to happen. For example, faulty brakes, defective tires, or a defective accelerator might cause a wreck. The likely defendant in a defective car part case is the manufacturer. Manufacturers can be held strictly liable if there was an automobile defect that caused the crash. If the problem involved a defective component that caused the crash, the parts supplier that designed or manufactured it may also be strictly liable or may be responsible under a theory of negligence.

The doctrine of strict liability allows you to prove liability without having to show a manufacturer was negligent. You would need to show that there was an unreasonably dangerous design or manufacturing defect in the car, you used the car as it was intended to be used, and the car was not substantially altered from the condition in which it was sold.

Many product liability lawsuits arising out of car accidents include allegations of design or manufacturing defects that rendered the car non-crashworthy. This means that the vehicle could not withstand a collision or protect the driver and passengers from harm while the car was in the process of colliding with something else or rolling over. When a car is crashworthy, it includes safety features that help prevent or reduce injuries to those riding inside the car. Defects related to a car being non-crashworthy—such as a defective seatbelt—may not actually cause a crash to occur, but they may worsen injuries.

What if the part was installed defectively by a repairman? In that case, you may need to establish negligence. You would need to prove the repairman owed you a duty, the repairman breached this duty, the breach caused the accident, and you suffered actual damages.

Product liability cases usually require expert testimony, and it may help to retain an attorney who can explain defects to the jury in a language that they can understand. If you are injured or a loved one is killed in the Atlanta area because of a defective part, you can retain experienced motor vehicle collision lawyer Stephen M. Ozcomert for assistance in your pursuit of damages. Call us at (404) 370-1000 or contact us via our online form to arrange a free consultation. We also represent clients in Decatur as well as other cities in DeKalb and Fulton Counties.