Tampa Automotive Product Liability Lawyer
Most car accidents are caused by negligence by one or more drivers. However, some crashes are caused by things the driver may not even know about, such as defective components. A defect in a car, truck, SUV, or motorcycle can result in serious injuries and even death.
These are situations in which the manufacturer would be liable for any damages. If you have been involved in an accident due to a defective vehicle, you may have a viable product liability claim. The Tampa automotive product liability lawyers at Anderson & Anderson can help you with this complex type of claim so you can obtain compensation.
Proving Product Liability
When bringing an automotive product liability claim, you must prove these three elements:
- The part was unreasonably hazardous.
- You were injured.
- The defective part caused your injury.
Types of Defects
There are three main types of product defects:
- Manufacturing defect. Products with a manufacturing defect may have an appropriate design, but may have been assembled incorrectly with the wrong parts. An example would be using screws instead of bolts, making the product prone to falling apart.
- Defective design. A design defect can make a product unreasonably dangerous, regardless of how it’s used. An example would be a seat belt that causes abdominal injury.
- Warning defect. This is when the manufacturer fails to properly label the product to warn consumers of its risks associated with its use. An example would be using an air bag in the passenger seat when there is a car seat there.
Common Defects
A defect can happen in a variety of ways. The most common vehicle defects include the following:
- Tires. Issues with tires can cause the vehicle to suffer reduced traction and sudden loss of tire pressure. Defects can also cause tire tread separation or sidewall failure, causing blowouts and loss of control.
- Inadequate passenger restraints. An occupant of a vehicle can suffer serious injuries if the seat belts or airbags fail to keep the occupant in their seat or fail to prevent ejection from the vehicle.
- Roof crush. When a vehicle rolls over, the weight can cause the roof of the vehicle to collapse. Thousands of people are injured or killed every year by roof crushes. SUVs are more prone to these crushes.
- Unintended acceleration. A defect with a vehicle’s accelerator or the layout of the pedals can cause the vehicle to accelerate without warning. There have been product liability claims against Audi and Toyota for this specific issue.
Contact Us Today
Automotive part defects can be serious matters. Thousands of people are injured or killed by them every year.
If you have been injured by a part defect, you need to seek legal help right away. The Tampa automotive product liability lawyers at Anderson & Anderson can help you file a product liability claim against the manufacturer. Don’t handle these complex claims on your own. Schedule a free consultation with our office today by filling out the online form or calling 813-251-0072.
