Auto Product Liability Lawyer

About Vehicle Defects

Vehicular defects are flaws in the design or manufacturing of a motor vehicle, whether a car, truck, SUV or motorcycle. Design defects are intended elements of the design itself that are defective. For example, if an automobile does not promote safety of its occupants due to the design of its frame, design defects are evident. A manufacturing defect, on the other hand, is a defect that was not intended in the design, but was overlooked as the product was manufactured. For example, a manufacturing defect may be present if a component of an automobile does not function in the manner it was intended to. In either case, vehicle occupants are placed at a higher risk for injury and death during an accident.

Auto product liability claims have the potential to be complex, but our legal team has the know-how and experience to properly handle these cases. A product liability attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP can provide you with the level of counsel you need to go up against an automobile manufacturer or designer in order to seek financial compensation for the injuries you have sustained as the result of a defective auto part. We can handle cases related to design or manufacturing defects in all types of automobile parts and represent clients throughout the U.S.

Types of Vehicle Defects

There are several key types of defects that may either lead to an auto accident or may contribute to the severity of injury that a vehicle occupant experiences in the collision. You can review these below:

Defective Vehicle Design
Design defects frequent in automobiles include faulty brake systems, seatbelt systems, fuel tanks, tires, steering wheel mechanisms, etc. Design defects in the configuration of a vehicle can misalign its center of gravity and increase the risk of a rollover. Click here to read more about vehicle design defects.

Defective Tires
Tire failures or blowouts are a major cause of passenger car and SUV rollover accidents. In recent years, some of the country's biggest tire companies, including Firestone and Cooper Tires, have been linked to design flaws and shoddy production values resulting in tires with poor tread adherence. Tread separation is one of the most common reasons for a tire blowout and can be attributed to poor tread design, which causes separation while the automobile is in motion. Click here to read more about defective tires.

Fuel System Defects
Fuel tanks may be incorrectly positioned, placing the tank system at a greater risk of impact during an accident. Fuel tanks are also prone to welding failures and often lack safety devices that stop gas flow in the event of an accident. Automobile accidents related to fuel tank defects are some of the most preventable, and yet, vehicle fires and explosions continue to occur on American roads. Click here to read more about fuel system defects.

Traction Control Defects
Poor traction control is one of reasons SUVs have a greater risk of rollover than other types of vehicles. SUV accidents can be largely prevented if traction control mechanisms (systems that allow the tires to grip the road during braking and acceleration) are in place. Click here to read more about traction defects and rollover accidents.

Seatbelt & Airbag Defects
Seatbelt systems and airbags have greatly contributed to the reduction of automobile fatalities. However, when these safety devices come with design and manufacturing defects, they can cause serious injuries to the drivers and passengers they are meant to protect. Seatbelts can become unlatched or tear during impact and airbags may fail to deploy or may deploy at the wrong moment, increasing the possibility of injuries. Click here to read more about defective seatbelts and airbags.

Defective Brakes
Accidents caused by defective brakes are much less common these days due to enhanced design and production processes and more stringent testing procedures. When brakes do fail, however, the resulting accidents can be severe. Click here to read more about defective brakes.

Car & SUV Roof Collapse
The biggest risk to passengers in a car or SUV rollover accident is roof crush or collapse. While some amount of damage to the roof may be unavoidable during a rollover, catastrophic injuries to occupants are usually the result of a weak and unsteady roof support system that causes the roof to disintegrate in the event of an accident. Click here to read more about roof collapses.

Uncontrolled Acceleration
Several models of cars in recent years, most notably Toyota models, have been linked to incidents of uncontrolled and unexplained acceleration, in which the engine revs up and the car speeds ahead completely on its own. Auto manufacturers continue to insist that there are no design defects that can explain such uncontrolled acceleration, but passengers who have been involved in accidents caused by such unprovoked speeding know otherwise. Click here to read more about uncontrolled acceleration.

Defective Seat Design
Seatbacks that have a weak and unstable structure are prone to collapsing during a collision, placing occupants at a high risk for serious head and bodily injuries. Passengers have suffered head, neck and spinal cord injuries, organ damage, paralysis and even death, as a result of partial or complete ejection from the seat, as well as being thrown against the vehicle's interior upon impact. Click here to read more about defective seat designs.

Power Window Defects
Children are more at risk of injuries caused by power windows than adults. These injuries can range from hand, wrist and finger fractures to dislocations and even death, if a child's body or head is trapped in a power window. Click here to read more about defective power windows.

Contact an Automobile Product Liability Attorney – Free Consultation

In offering a free consultation to review the circumstances surrounding your auto product liability claim, we give you the opportunity to learn more about your options and your legal rights in this important matter. If you have questions that need to be answered, a product liability attorney at our firm can provide you with straightforward answers that apply to your particular situation. We wish to help you make informed choices about your case so you can seek justice and maximum compensation.

Contact an auto product liability lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP today.