Have You Been in an Accident Involving a Car with Defective Parts?
Contact Veron Bice, LLC if you have been in a serious accident that was caused by a defective auto part. Our Lake Charles attorneys can provide you a free case review, and you will be charged nothing unless we win.
We Hold Car Companies Accountable
What is the number one claim that the vast majority of car commercials make? Top safety pick, highly rated for safety, the most awarded vehicle for safety. Every car manufacturer wants you to feel safe behind the wheel of their automobile. Yet, what happens when those claims turn out to be not as accurate as you thought? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration puts the number of automotive recalls in 2019 at 881, impacting over 38.5 million vehicles in the United States. That’s millions of vehicles out on U.S. roads impacted by some form of defective part or mechanical defect. When car companies and parts manufacturers put profits above safety, you are the one that could end up suffering the consequences.
At Veron Bice, LLC, we passionately believe that major car companies and manufacturers must be held accountable for their negligent actions. When a company fails to live up to its obligation to provide a safe product to consumers, consumers involved in the resulting accident deserve fair compensation for their injuries and emotional distress. If you have been involved in a serious car accident and believe a defective part may be to blame, contact an experienced Lake Charles car accident attorney. We can review your situation, investigate the cause of the accident, and seek maximum compensation from those liable for causing the accident. You shouldn’t have to pay for an accident that wasn’t your fault. Contact us today by calling 337-310-1600 for more information.
What Constitutes a Defective Part or Mechanical Defect?
A defective part or mechanical defect is any type of flaw or malfunction that prevents a vehicle or a vehicle’s internal systems from operating correctly and as intended. This malfunction impacts the safety or normal use of the vehicle itself. Defects can impact a wide variety of parts and mechanical systems in a car, including the engine, transmission, hydraulic system, brakes, body, or other aspects of an otherwise functional vehicle.
Not all defects are the same. There are typically two main categories of defective parts or mechanical defects. The first type of defect is known as a design defect. A design defect is considered a significant flaw in the concept of the vehicle. While it may be manufactured correctly, this flaw in the design makes the vehicle unreasonably dangerous for operation. A design defect impacts an entire production line. Every vehicle made following the design will inherently be defective.
The second type of defect is called a manufacturing defect. This type of defect happens when a mistake or accident takes place in the processing of a part or vehicle system. While the design is correct and theoretically should make the part functional, the mistake in constructing the part means it will be defective and prone to failure. A mistake, miscalculation, or accident in production can lead to a part being the wrong size, wrong shape, or structurally weaker than intended. These unintended defects typically only impact certain parts made on a certain production line. That can mean that not all the vehicles of a specific product line will be impacted.
Most Common Types of Defects
Cars and trucks are complicated machines that employ a diverse range of moving mechanical parts and sophisticated electronic sensors and systems. The failure of just one integral piece of the framework can result in a chain reaction of disaster with devastating consequences. Just one defective part or system can lead to a serious accident. The failure of defective safety features may also mean that injuries from an accident can be significantly worse than if all the features had been working properly and were operational at the time of impact. Some of the most common defects impacting vehicles include:
- Easily collapsing roofs
- Brake failures
- Power steering failures
- Electrical shorts
- Electrical system failures
- Airbag failures, either not deploying or deploying when there is no accident
- Airbags deploying with too much force
- Seatbelt failures
- Unintended acceleration
- Faulty fuel pump
- Blow-out prone tires
- Misaligned suspensions
- Wheels or rims that crack or break
- Faulty door latch mechanisms
While common, these aren’t the only types of defects that may end up causing an accident. If you suspect that a defective part or mechanical system was responsible for contributing to an accident, contact Veron Bice, LLC. We can review your information and conduct a thorough investigation into the crash.
Your car doesn’t have to be on a recall list to have a defective part. Recalls only happen after a certain number of accidents have already taken place. Your vehicle could have a defective part or system in place and not be a part of a current recall effort. For more information, contact an experienced defective car accident attorney at Veron Bice, LLC.
Who is Responsible for a Defective Part Accident?
Unfortunately for many drivers, the eventual failure of the part can happen at any time and without any warning. One moment the vehicle is operating normally, and then the brakes go out, and a driver is in a sudden and desperate situation. When the unimaginable happens, and an accident is the ultimate result, who is responsible for the damages? This can become a complicated question, and it depends on the circumstances of the accident. In general, one or more of the following parties may be held liable for an accident caused by a defective part:
- The car manufacturer
- Depending on the circumstances, a car manufacturer may be held liable for a defective part accident. Car manufacturers have a duty to provide reasonably safe vehicles to the public. If the manufacturer is negligent in that duty, they may be responsible for compensating victims injured by that negligence.
- A parts manufacturer
- Not all car companies manufacture their own parts. Some companies may outsource to another manufacturer or company. If a defective part came from a separate or third-party manufacturer, then that company may be held responsible for compensating victims.
- The car dealer or parts dealer
- In some situations, a car or parts dealer may also be held responsible. Those involved in bringing the defective car to market could be held liable or partially liable for a resulting accident.
- Insurance company
- A claim may also be filed with your insurance company or if another driver was involved, their insurance company.
It takes a solid and in-depth investigation into the accident to determine the cause and pin the blame on a faulty mechanism or defect. An average car insurance company may not have the time or the resources available to conduct an intensive defective part investigation. Also bear in mind that if you suspect a defective part was to blame for an accident, you may find yourself up against a team of lawyers and insurers whose job it is to protect the profits of a multi-million-dollar car company they work for. It is equally important to note that more than one party may be responsible for the defective part that led to the accident. When multiple parties are involved, the claims process can be much more intensive and difficult.
Securing an experienced defective car accident attorney immediately after an accident is extremely valuable. An attorney has the power and the resources to conduct a complete investigation into the cause of the accident in order to pinpoint the defect. Through this process, an attorney can also collect the necessary evidence to demonstrate that not only did a defective part contribute to the accident but that the car or part manufacturer was negligent in their duty to the consumer. This is the foundation needed to begin seeking full and fair compensation from an automaker or parts manufacturer.
Contact an Experienced Lake Charles Car Accident Attorney Immediately
When you make a big purchase, like a vehicle, you have the expectation that what you are buying is a reasonably safe and secure option. Car companies and manufacturers, in fact, have a duty to provide safe vehicles to consumers. When these major companies fail or are negligent in that duty, accidents can happen: accidents that can take a major toll on victims both physically and financially. Companies must be held accountable, but the thought of taking on a major car corporation is, admittedly, daunting.
That’s where the legal team at Veron Bice, LLC comes in. We are aggressive and experienced attorneys who aren’t afraid of going head-to-head with big business. We’ve been helping Lake Charles accident victims achieve positive and meaningful outcomes for years. From the negotiating table to the courtroom, we know how best to serve you.
If you or a loved one suspect that a defective part was responsible for your car accident, contact the seasoned team at Veron Bice, LLC for help. We offer a free initial case review to go over your situation and review your legal options. Contact us today at 337-310-1600 for the legal advice you deserve.
