Philadelphia Product Liability Lawyers Discuss Types of Auto Defects

Drivers face a number of hazards on the road, from inclement weather, to unpredictable road conditions, to other vehicles. If their car contains a defective part, however, the car itself can become the biggest danger to a driver. Whether it is caused by a flawed design, manufacturing error, or simply a failure to operate properly, a defective auto part can have devastating consequences.

When an auto manufacturer discovers a defect in one of their vehicles, they have a responsibility to notify their consumers, typically through a product recall. Recalls may be voluntary if the problem is not severe, but many vehicle defects can be extremely dangerous. A defective fuel tank or fuel line can result in vehicle fires and explosions, as demonstrated by the famous Ford Pinto. Any failure in the brake system endangers not only the occupants of the vehicle but anyone around them, including pedestrians and other drivers on the road. In some models, particularly trucks and SUVs, a design flaw can increase the likelihood of a rollover accident, which can cause serious injury.

Any Defective Auto Part Presents a Risk

Other defects, such as faulty door locks and latches, may seem innocuous enough until a car accident occurs. A flaw in the door may keep passengers trapped inside a vehicle or even eject them from it. Seat backs can fail during a crash, injuring passengers in the backseat. Tires are also frequently recalled for safety reasons.

Even features designed to keep drivers and passengers safe and offer modern conveniences have been the subjects of recent recalls. Airbags that fail to deploy leave drivers vulnerable to injury during a collision, while airbags that deploy at the wrong time can cause a collision and serious injuries. Defective ignition switches can cause the key to unintentionally switch from the “run” position while the car is in operation. See our previous blog here on this topic. Seat belts have saved hundreds of thousands of lives, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but only when they are working properly.

Cars are incredibly complex machines; brake systems, for example, comprise many small parts, including rotors, pads, calipers, and others. If any one of these parts fails, the results can be disastrous. Failure can occur for a number of reasons, including an inherently flawed design, production error, or as the result of a cost-cutting measure. Depending on when in the process the defect occurred, the designer, manufacturer, distributor, or some combination of the three may be held liable for any accidents. Car accidents caused by auto defects can cause lifelong injuries including burns, amputations, paralysis, and brain trauma.

Philadelphia Product Liability Lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP Fight for Rights of Injured Victims

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a defective auto part, call the Philadelphia product liability lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP. We will thoroughly review the facts of your case to determine who is at fault for your injuries and prepare an aggressive legal strategy to hold them accountable for their negligence. With offices conveniently located in Philadelphia, we help victims of auto defects throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Call us today at 1-800-222-USWA (8792) or contact us online for a free consultation with an experienced product liability lawyer.