When Vehicle Defects Cause Serious Car Accidents

Often, traffic accidents are caused by negligence on the part of one or more drivers, but this is not always the case. Sometimes, dangerous traffic crashes are caused by defects in the vehicles themselves. If you’ve been injured in a traffic accident that was caused by a vehicle defect, you shouldn’t wait to consult with our experienced accident attorneys at Mette Attorneys at Law in Reading, PA.

Vehicle-Defect Accident Claims in Reading

When a vehicle defect causes an accident that leaves you injured, it’s covered by product liability law. We hurdle across our roads at high speeds in our vehicles, and when a vehicle or its parts are defective, the consequences can be devastating. While vehicle-defect accident claims are legally complex, your recovery is important, and having dedicated legal guidance in your corner can make all the difference.

Some of the Most Common Vehicle Defects

While virtually any kind of vehicle defect can cause a serious accident, some of the most common and dangerous include the following:

• Ignition Switch Defects – A faulty ignition switch can cause the engine to suddenly shut down on the road, which can leave the driver with absolutely no control over the vehicle.
• Malfunctioning Airbags – Airbag defects are some of the highest-profile vehicle defects. When an airbag fails to deploy as needed or deploys unexpectedly, it poses a very serious risk.
• Faulty Seat Belts – Seat belts are designed to save lives, and when they don’t function properly, they put vehicle occupants at extreme risk of being very seriously injured or worse in the event of an accident.
• Defective Tires – A defect in a tire can leave it more vulnerable to blowing out or to limiting the driver’s control over the vehicle. In the process, it greatly increases the risk of an accident happening.
• Brake Failure – When brakes fail, catastrophic accidents often ensue. We rely on our brakes to slow and stop, and without this capability, we’re far more likely to be seriously injured in vehicle crashes.

Three Categories of Product Liability Claims

While every product liability claim involving a vehicle defect is specific to the facts involved, they break down into the following basic categories:

• Design defect, which means that the car or car part was based on a faulty design
• Defect in manufacture, which means that the car or car part was rendered defective during the manufacturing process
• Defect in warning or instructions, which means that the manufacturer didn’t provide consumers with adequate instructions or warnings regarding risk factors

To bring a successful claim in Reading, you’ll need to prove that the vehicle or the car part was defective when it left the manufacturer’s control.

Our Experienced Vehicle-Defect Accident Lawyers Are Ready to Assist

Our seasoned Reading vehicle-defect accident attorneys at Mette Attorneys at Law recognize the gravity of these accidents and are well-versed in the legal challenges they present. Learn more about everything we can do to help you by contacting us online or by calling our firm at 717-232-5000 today.