We depend on our cars to help keep us safe on the roads. Many of us, in fact, may try to select our cars based on safety ratings. When we hear about car accidents caused by vehicle defects, we all get more anxious. Unfortunately, it does happen. Vehicle defects can cause accidents or they can make accidents much more serious. Your brakes may have failed when you needed them, and a car accident was the result. A car accident may have occurred due to another driver’s fault, but the airbag deployed with much greater force than it should have, leading to serious injuries on top of others caused by the accident. There are a number of scenarios where a vehicle defect played a pivotal role in an accident and led to serious damages.
Steps to Take After an Accident Caused by a Vehicle Defect
If you were injured in an accident caused by or made worse by a vehicle defect, you may be able to pursue compensation by bringing a product liability claim. You can bring a claim against the vehicle designer, manufacturer, or anyone in the supply chain who was responsible for the vehicle defect. Product liability claims can be based on a manufacturing defect if a vehicle defect was a result of an error in the process of building the car. Such a claim could be based on a design defect if the unsafe condition of the car was due to its flawed design.
In any car accident, it can be important to document the accident scene. This remains true in a vehicle defect accident. Take pictures of the car, your injuries, and the accident scene. It is also critical that you make sure your vehicle is stored in a safe location and is not repaired until an assessment of the potential defect can be made. Be sure to consult legal counsel on this as how your vehicle is handled post-accident could be the difference between your claim succeeding and failing.
You should also be sure to seek immediate medical attention. Your injuries and the documentation of your injuries and the treatment you receive for them will play a vital role in both your product’s liability claim and any other personal injury claims you choose to pursue as a result of the accident. Furthermore, immediate medical attention and consistent follow-up treatment will help you take care of yourself and your health as well as help your injuries properly heal. Thus, medical treatment will play a pivotal role in your well-being and that of your claim.
Personal Injury Attorneys
Vehicle defect accidents can be tricky. Who can be held liable will require a complex analysis of the circumstances of the case. At Dickman Law, you are in good hands. We fight for our clients and work tirelessly on their behalf to help ensure they are properly compensated for their accident losses. After an accident, time is of the essence. Contact us today.
Posted in: Car Accidents