Accidents Due to Automotive Defects

While mistakes are inevitable when building and creating new vehicles, defective parts should be caught early – before the vehicle makes it to the market and onto the roads.

However, those responsible for designing and manufacturing cars are usually in a hurry to complete the vehicles and sell them to customers as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to flawed products making their way to consumers. As a result, drivers and passengers sharing the roadways are at risk of experiencing disaster due to an automotive defect at any given time, which can result in a devastating car accident.

What are some of the most common auto defects?

Many different auto defects often occur and cause serious car accidents in Tulsa and other areas of Oklahoma. Here are five of the most common defects.

Defective brakes

Brakes are one of the most common auto defects that cause accidents. When your brakes stop working, you risk hitting another vehicle or person, running a red light or stop sign, or even losing control of your vehicle and running off the road.

Steering wheel issues

If the steering wheel malfunctions, you may have difficulty steering the vehicle, which could cause you to drift into another lane, oncoming traffic, or even off the roadway.

Airbag problems

Airbags are known to deploy with extreme speed and force. For an airbag to serve its purpose, it has to deploy as soon as you experience high amounts of force or impact. However, if an airbag is faulty, it may fail to deploy. Also, faulty airbags may randomly deploy at any time, causing a dangerous situation and creating a severe risk of an accident. For example, if you drive down the roadway and an airbag randomly deploys as you approach an intersection, you may lose control of your vehicle and crash into the other cars waiting their turn. Faulty airbags were, in fact, the cause of an enormous and infamous recall.

Faulty seat belts

A faulty seat belt may randomly unbuckle, quickly weaken, or even become stuck. This can increase the chances of severe and life-threatening injuries, ejection from the vehicle, or even cause you to become stuck if the vehicle catches on fire after a crash.

Defective tires

Defective tires can increase your chances of experiencing a tire blowout, resulting in a horrific accident. For example, if a vehicle tire was made poorly, is not properly installed on the vehicle, the tread becomes worn very quickly, or the pressure leaks out at a fast pace, a tire blowout is likely, causing you to swerve into oncoming traffic, lose control, crash into other vehicles, experience a rollover, or even run off the road.

What happens if my accident is a direct result of a defective part?

If your accident is a direct result of a defective part, you may be able to file an accident claim and seek compensation for your injuries, medical bills, lost income, vehicle damage, pain and suffering, and more. However, to successfully file a claim and receive any financial recovery, you must be able to prove that the at-fault party owed you a duty of care, breached their duty of care by acting negligently, the breach directly caused your accident, and you suffered damages as a result.

Accidents caused by defective parts can be very complex. You should hire a Tulsa car accident lawyer to help you prove your injuries and damages, hold the at-fault party accountable, and fight for your right to the compensation you need.

How do I prove fault from a defective part?

Proving that a defective part caused your car accident requires strong and convincing evidence. You must take the time to gather documents, records, and eye-opening proof related to your accident. Some of the evidence pieces that you may want to collect and submit with your car accident claim to provide valuable proof include:

• Photographs
• Videos
• Surveillance footage
• Eyewitness statements
• Expert witness testimonies
• Dash cam footage
• Vehicle records
• Auto mechanic or maintenance paperwork
• Vehicle owner’s manual
• Recalls related to your vehicle or parts
• Medical records
• Police reports

If you have the defective part removed from your vehicle, you may be able to take photos or use the actual part as evidence in your case.

Who can be sued for an accident due to an automotive defect in Tulsa?

The following parties can be sued for an automotive defect in Tulsa:

• The manufacturer: If a defect occurred during the manufacturing or creation process, the manufacturer may be responsible for your accident.
• The designer: If the auto part was in the design stage when the defect occurred, you can most likely sue the product’s designer.
• The supplier or distributor: The manufacturer may have used a part or product from a third-party supplier or distributor, which resulted in a defect. If it is determined that the defect occurred because of the part or product provided by the supplier or distributor, they are considered liable for your accident.
• The dealership: The dealership could be held accountable if it knew about the defective part and did not warn individuals who bought the vehicle.
• The auto mechanic or repair shop: If a recall has been issued, an auto mechanic or repair shop may be required to repair or replace the defective part. However, if they fail to do so and you experience an accident, you may be able to sue the auto mechanic or repair shop for their negligence.

If you or a family member have been injured in a car accident due to a faulty or defective part, please do not hesitate to contact a Tulsa car accident attorney from Biby Law Firm Injury and Accident Lawyers at your earliest opportunity. Call our office or submit our contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today.