Immediately after a car accident, people usually think about whether or not the driver was careless or mistaken. Most of the time, though, the accident may have been caused by the car itself.
This is where product liability law comes in. Quinn Law Group, LLC can help you know what your rights are and get justice.
What is product liability?
Product liability is a legal concept that says companies that make, sell, or distribute faulty goods are responsible for any harm or damage they cause. In the case of car crashes, this means that the maker or seller of the car could be held responsible if a flaw in the car causes an accident.
Common defects in cars that can cause accidents.
Several kinds of problems with cars can make them more likely to crash:
- Design defects: Design flaws happen when a product is naturally dangerous because of a mistake in how it was made. A car model that is prone to flipping over or one with a broken braking system is two examples of cars that might be thought to be improperly made.
- Manufacturing defects: These are mistakes made during the production process, like a broken part or a mistake in how it was put together. Manufacturing defects include things like a frame that is not bonded well or a seatbelt that does not work right.
- Marketing flaws: This happens when suggestions or directions about a product’s possible risks are not clear enough. One example of a marketing flaw is not telling customers about a certain driving situation that could cause a car to break down.
How do you prove a product liability case?
If you want to file a product liability claim against a car seller or maker, you usually need to show the following:
- Defect: The car had a problem with how it was designed, made, or sold.
- Causation: Because of the flaw, the accident happened, and you got hurt.
- Accident-related injury: The accident caused you real harm.
It can be hard to prove these things, and experts like engineers, accident reconstructionists, and other professionals are often needed.
The role of auto manufacturers.
Automakers are required by law and morality to make cars that are safe. They come up with ideas, make the goods, and test them to make sure they meet safety standards. Manufacturers are required to return damaged cars and make any fixes that are needed when problems are found.
Some recent trends in auto defect litigation.
In the past few years, there have been a lot more cases against automakers for product responsibility. Some well-known cases concern problems like:
- Faulty airbags: Millions of cars were recalled because their airbags had become defective and could explode, hurting or killing people inside.
- Unintentional acceleration: Some car models have been linked to rapid, unintentional acceleration that can cause very bad crashes.
- Electronic systems that do not work right: Modern cars have a lot of complicated electronic systems that can go wrong and cause problems like quick stopping or losing control.
The importance of having expert witnesses.
Expert witnesses are very important in product liability cases because they help show what went wrong and that there was a flaw. Some of these experts are:
- Accident reconstructionists: They look at crash areas and data from vehicles to figure out what went wrong.
- Engineers: They can find flaws in a vehicle’s design or mistakes made during production.
- Medical professionals: They can figure out how bad the injuries are and connect them to the crash.
Seek legal counsel as soon as possible.
If you think that a problem with the car caused your accident, you should talk to a personal injury lawyer right away. They can help you figure out what your legal rights are, gather proof, and put together a good case against the people who did wrong.
People can better protect themselves and get justice when their cars are faulty if they understand the rules of product liability and how automakers might be responsible.