People often assume that a car accident is the fault of another driver. While this is often true, sometimes the vehicles involved can also bear responsibility for the crash.
Our attorneys at Colling Gilbert Wright work with people injured in DeLand car accidents due to defective vehicles to hold the manufacturers accountable. We have a reputation in the legal community for our skillful advocacy and compassion for our clients. In fact, many of our cases are referred to us by other attorneys and law firms who trust our team to handle their clients’ most complex and challenging injury claims.
The Role of Vehicle Defects in Injury Claims
When you decide to work with our firm after a road accident, we investigate the crash thoroughly. Our DeLand attorneys often discover that a defect in one of the involved vehicles caused or contributed to the car accident, or exacerbated your injuries.
Several different flaws can impact a vehicle’s operation, durability, and safety in an accident. Below are some of the more common situations we have encountered in our practice.
Defects That Cause Accidents
Manufacturer error may produce vehicles with faulty brake lines that leak brake fluid or anti-locking systems that do not function as they should. Brake system defects can cause a driver to lose control, leading to deadly high-speed crashes. Accelerators that stick or freeze can lead to serious accidents.
Tires made with shoddy materials, incorrect tread depth, or vehicles with faulty tire pressure monitoring systems are prone to blowouts and tread separation, which can cause accidents. Defective electrical systems can impact the vehicle’s head and tail lights and can cause steering problems. Faulty electrical systems can also cause a vehicle to catch fire.
Defects That Cause Injuries
Some manufacturing defects do not impact the operation of the vehicle, but they do influence the outcome of a collision. You could hold a manufacturer liable if a defect caused you to suffer injuries, even if it did not lead to the accident.
Faulty airbags that do not deploy or deploy prematurely can inflict serious harm. Defective seat belts and door latches can lead to a vehicle occupant being ejected, greatly increasing the chances of catastrophic injuries.
Proving Liability for Defective Vehicles
Defective vehicle claims are usually not based on negligence, in contrast to most injury claims. Product liability law applies to these cases, which means that anyone in the supply chain could be liable for selling a defective product. Defendants could include the vehicle manufacturer, the manufacturer of a faulty component, and the dealer or other party who sold the vehicle.
When we prove the product was defective, these parties are strictly liable for your injuries. Our DeLand lawyers must prove that the manufacturer designed the vehicle or component with a flaw, made an error during production, or failed to provide adequate warnings or installation instructions to ensure safe use, and that this may have contributed to the accident.
Meeting the burden of proof for strict liability may be challenging, but our attorneys have the resources and knowledge to succeed in these cases. We have obtained several verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million in these types of cases.
How Do You Allocate Fault in a Defective Vehicle Case?
There may be several responsible parties in a defective vehicle case. Sometimes, a vehicle defect may not be the sole cause of the accident, and the involved drivers and others might also bear responsibility. Allocating fault between multiple potentially responsible parties complicates settlement negotiations, as much of the discussion often centers on apportioning liability between them.
If you were partially responsible for the accident, Florida Statutes § 768.81 requires a court to reduce your compensation by a percentage equaling your degree of fault. Our attorneys could work to minimize your responsibility in a DeLand defective vehicle case and preserve your rights to fair compensation for any harm suffered due to the accident.
Consult a DeLand Lawyer if You Were Hurt in a Crash Involving a Defective Vehicle
DeLand car accidents due to defective vehicles happen more often than you might think. When safety is a secondary consideration to profits, and you end up with injuries, you could take legal action against the manufacturer and others in the supply chain.
Our attorneys at The Florida Firm have an impressive record in these cases. We do not accept fees or expenses unless we win, so contact us to discuss your case today.