What Are the Most Common Defective Car Parts?
Countless Americans drive a motor vehicle each day, and while some of them get to and from their location with no issues, many others are involved in an accident – some of which could be related to defective car parts. Understanding the most common defective car parts allows you to take the appropriate precautions to keep yourself safe. If a collision is caused by defective vehicle parts, an experienced Jersey City car accident lawyer may be able to help. Some of the most common ones include:
Steering Components: Faulty steering components can lead to a loss of vehicle control, thereby increasing the risk of an accident. Defects may include issues with power steering or problems within the mechanics that prevent correct direction changes.
Airbags: Airbags are designed to inflate rapidly upon serious impact, providing a cushioning effect to prevent serious injuries. However, airbag defects such as incorrect deployment, inappropriate deployment timing, or complete failure to deploy can lead to severe injuries. Additionally, some defects may cause airbags to explode unexpectedly without a collision.
Accelerator Issues: When there’s a defect with the accelerator, it can cause uncontrolled acceleration or no acceleration at all. This might lead you to either uncontrollably speed up or be unable to move your car, both of which can put you in dangerous situations that could result in collisions.
Brakes: Any faulty parts within the braking system can drastically reduce its performance, causing reduced stopping ability or complete failure. Defective brakes pose not only a huge risk for the driver but also endanger passengers and other road users, potentially leading to significant accidents.
Seat Belts: Seat belts are fundamental safety devices in any vehicle, designed to secure passengers during an accident. If they’re defective, like not latching properly or unexpectedly unlatching, it could lead to serious injury or even fatality when a crash occurs.
Transmission Systems – Including Clutch and Gear Shift: Defects within the transmission system can increase the risk of accidents significantly. You might experience unexpected stalling if gears get stuck or fail to engage correctly – causing unpredictable situations and endangering drivers and pedestrians.
If you’ve experienced an accident as a result of a defective vehicle part, the best thing you can do is reach out to a personal injury lawyer to determine if you have a claim to recover compensation.
Types of Product Liability Claims After an Accident From a Defective Car Part
If you’ve been involved in an accident that was related to a defective car part, there’s legal recourse you can take to seek justice and compensation to help you on your road to recovery. These issues are typically handled under New Jersey product liability claims, often referred to as defective product claims. There are several different types of product defects that could lead to a claim or a lawsuit, and they usually fall under one of the three following categories:
Design Defects
These claims arise when a product’s design is inherently dangerous or defective. In terms of automobiles, this could mean a structure or feature that makes the vehicle unsafe for use, regardless of how well it was manufactured.
Manufacturing Defects
This type of claim focuses on faults occurring during the production or assembly process of the product. Even if a car part is well-designed, it can still malfunction if manufactured improperly.
Warning Defects
Warning defects involve a failure to offer adequate instructions or warnings concerning the product’s use. This could indicate that the vehicle didn’t come with effective instructions, safety guidelines were incomplete, or there weren’t suitable warnings about potential risks associated with particular car parts.
Identifying a defective car part and navigating through the complexities of product liability claims can prove challenging, making it essential to work with a lawyer. Don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule a free consultation.