Dallas, Texas Automotive Products Liability Claims: When Defects Cause Accidents
Thousands of motor vehicle accidents occur every year in Texas. Though many are due to negligence, others are due to defects in the motor vehicle itself.
What is Automotive Products Liability?
All product manufacturers—including motor vehicle manufacturers—have a duty to consumers. This duty is to provide products that are safe for consumers to use. If a motor vehicle is defective and causes injuries, the manufacturer may be liable in an automotive products liability claim.
There are two primary types of defects that may be present in a vehicle:
- The motor vehicle’s design was inherently dangerous, or
- The motor vehicle or its components were defective.
Either one of both types of defects may be present in a vehicle.
To prevail in an automotive products liability claim, an injured victim must show that the motor vehicle’s defective nature was the proximate cause of the injuries he or she suffered.
Motor Vehicle Rollover Crashes
Some vehicles are especially susceptible to rollover crashes due to defects in their design or manufacture. For example, SUVs, vans, and trucks are more likely to experience a rollover crash as compared to sedans or coupes.
Rollover crashes often occur in these vehicles because the center of gravity is higher. Adding additional weight to the vehicle, such as several passengers or heavy luggage, may also impact the center of gravity.
In addition, issues with the vehicle’s suspension, defective tires, or brake problems may also lead to rollover crashes.
ATV/UTV Rollover Crashes
All terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility task vehicles (UTVs) are both designed to be driven off of smooth roadways, and many outdoor enthusiasts love to drive them on many different types of terrain. However, both of these vehicles are frequently involved in rollover crashes that result in serious injuries or death.
ATVs and UTVs also have a high center of gravity, making them more susceptible to rollover crashes. Many of these vehicles have also been the subject of recalls for issues such as defective door hinges, engines that overheat too quickly, fuel leaks, and brake problems.
These defects may cause accidents that lead to serious injuries or death.
Seat Back Failure
Drivers and passengers are only truly safe in a vehicle if all of the vehicle’s parts are working properly. This, of course, includes the seats within the vehicle. During some crashes, the back of the seat malfunctions and falls backwards or breaks.
A seat back failure may cause serious injuries to those sitting behind the defective seat. Seat back failures are often caused by poor design, faulty installation, or improper assembly.
In extreme cases, seat back failure may actually cause an occupant to be ejected from the vehicle.
Seat Belt Failure
The importance of wearing a seat belt cannot be emphasized enough. Since they became mandatory in all vehicles in the 1960s, they have saved millions of lives.
However, due to improper installation, weak materials, or faulty design, in many accidents seat belt failure causes serious injuries or death. Seat belt failures may cause a seatbelt to rip, become unbuckled, or fail to lock during a crash, putting passengers at risk for various types of injuries.
Tire Defects
Tire defects are especially dangerous, as they may occur without warning and seemingly without a triggering event. There are a variety of tire defects, including improper installation of the tires, failure to secure the tires properly, tread and belt separation, and explosions.
Again, these defects may be caused by manufacturing errors, or they may be inherent in the design of the tires themselves.
Hiring an Attorney is Important After an Accident
Without the assistance of an attorney, you may never uncover the true cause of your accident. Law enforcement officials may mistakenly assign fault to a driver after an accident, even though the true cause of the crash was a defect in the vehicle. However, an experienced Texas automotive products liability attorney is able to identify the causes of a crash and pursue legal action against those responsible.
Call Brooker Law, PLLC Today to Discuss Your Case
At Brooker Law, PLLC, our attorneys know how to pinpoint the causes of an accident and hold responsible parties accountable and are experienced in automotive defect claims. With our assistance and expertise, you will obtain the compensation you deserve and understand why your accident happened. To schedule a free consultation, contact or call (214) 217-0277 today.