Defective vehicles are a hidden menace on our roads, and sometimes in our homes. Defects can cause auto accidents, cause injuries to be worse in accidents that have other causes, and even cause deadly events when the vehicle isn’t in use. If your injury, or the death of a loved one, was caused by a defective vehicle you may be able to recover substantial compensation through a product liability claim.
Defects That Cause Accidents
Examples of the types of defects that can cause accidents include:
- Ignition switch defects
- Faulty suspension
- Defective steering system
- Faulty tires
- Faulty brakes
- Defective sensors
- Defective design leading to rollover
- Defects causing spontaneous acceleration
- Defective electronic stability control (ESC)
- Electrical system defects
- Faulty fuel system
- Airbags that deploy inappropriately
Crashworthiness Defects
Crashworthiness defects are defects that don’t actually cause accidents, but cause injuries to be worse in the event of an accident. Examples include:
- Faulty airbags
- Defective seatbelts
- Fuels system defects leading to fuel-fed fires and explosions
- Poor roof crush resistance
- Collapsing seat backs
- Faulty window glazing
- Defective headrests
“Freak Accidents”
Defective vehicles can cause horrific events, even when they aren’t in use.
Electrical system malfunctions can cause a car to catch fire when it is parked and not running. If that happens in a garage or near a structure, it can cause a structure fire.
Cars with keyless ignition systems can remain running while parked in a garage causing carbon monoxide poisoning. This happens when the automatic shut-off or alarm system fails. In hybrids, the danger is even higher because the car can start itself when the electric power runs down.
If you believe that your injuries were caused by a defective vehicle, please call the Law Offices of Eric R. Bernstein, P.C., at (212) 683-1530 or contact us online today to schedule your free initial consultation.
