Defective Car Parts
New York Product Liability Lawyers Representing Victims of Auto Accidents Caused By Defective Car Parts
Modern automobiles are complex machines that have thousands of parts, each necessary to ensure it operates properly, and occupants remain safe. When the design of these machines is poor, or when a single part fails, the results can be catastrophic. These design and part defects can cause tires to blowout with no warning or vehicles to roll over. Victims of these car parts defect accidents can file a product liability claim to recover damages.
New York Product Liability Lawyers of The Rybak Firm, PLLC., have decades of experience getting injured New Yorkers the compensation they need and deserve. Call us today: 718-307-5554.
How do problems occur due to defective car designs and parts in New York ?
In general, two categories of product liability claims commonly affect automobile designers, manufacturers, parts producers, and sellers. These are:
Defective Design
Vehicles with a defective design are not the result of improper manufacturing. Instead, they are the result of an issue with the actual design; for example, ABC Design Company designs a vehicle, but does not consider how high heat may affect the vehicle’s power steering pump. If a driver operating one of ABC’s vehicles suffers injury after a power steering malfunction, ABC may be liable.
Defective Parts
When the problem stems from defective parts, it can be related to design or manufacturing. Recent cases show that defective parts — anything from a single bolt to airbag assemblies to SUV tires — can cause serious car accidents and injuries.
A manufacturer may also be liable for failure to warn if a known danger injures a customer. One example occurred when companies failed to warn parents about placing smaller children in the front seat near airbags.
Who is liable for a car accident caused by a defective car part?
New York laws make it fairly easy for consumers to file claims against automobile companies when they suffer injuries due to a defect. This is thanks to a doctrine known as strict liability. This doctrine allows consumers to file a claim against liable product designers, manufacturers, or distributors without having to prove that the negligent party failed to do its due diligence in keeping users safe.
No matter how careful a manufacturer or dealer is when designing, assembling, or shipping a vehicle, an injured consumer can file a claim against that manufacturer to collect compensation after a defective car causes an accident.
While this seems simple, determining who the liable party is can be tricky. This is because defects can occur at any stage of the design and manufacturing process.
You might also find that more than one party is liable for your crash. For example, if a bolt made of inferior metal breaks, the injuries sustained in the resulting car crash could fall on the shoulders of the material supplier, the bolt manufacturer, and the automobile manufacturer (for using inferior parts).
What is necessary to establish liability?
Under the strict liability doctrine, you only need to meet three conditions to prove liability.
- First, the vehicle of one of its vital components must have “unreasonably dangerous” defects.
- Next, this defect led to injuries while you drove the vehicle in a reasonable and intended manner.
- Lastly, you did not make substantial changes to the vehicle that altered its performance.
Your product liability lawyer will likely collect a wide range of evidence to support your case. This evidence may include:
- The vehicle itself, or images of the part in question
- Photos of your injury
- Photos of the scene
- Police reports from the scene of the accident
- Expert testimony
- Vehicle inspection reports or reports from a repair shop
- Eyewitness testimony
- Information from similar incidents
How can New York Product Liability Lawyers help?
If you suffered injuries due to a defective car design or part in New York, New York Car Accident Lawyer at The Rybak Firm, PLLC., can help you get the compensation you need to cover your damages. We work to prove liability and help our clients recover money to pay for medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Contact us today at (718) 307-5554 for a free consultation and an evaluation of your case and more information on how you can get the compensation you deserve.
Who is liable if trucking violations cause an accident?
If a truck driver causes an accident because of an industry violation, victims can hold the trucking company or carrier liable due to a concept called vicarious liability. This concept holds that employers are liable for the actions of their employees, as long as the employee was acting within the scope of his employment.
A carrier may also be directly liable if it requires, encourages, or allows violations of industry rules. For example, the carrier would be directly liable for violations if the carrier required its drivers to text updates to them while driving or forced them to drive longer than the maximum allowed hours.