Car accidents are a common and unpleasant occurrence in the United States. When an accident happens, and your loved one is injured, most people quickly blame the vehicle's driver. Even though drivers and other road users play a significant part in causing crashes, here are different causes of auto accidents, including faulty vehicle parts. Cars are manufactured and maintained by human beings who are prone to negligence and error.

Defective vehicle parts could be linked to the manufacturer's poor design and marketing strategies. If you or your loved one has suffered severe injury and loss from an accident resulting from defective parts, you will want to seek compensation. At Consumer Alert Now, we will ensure you are well informed on the different vehicle defects and help you join a class action to seek compensation for your loss.

Overview of Auto Accidents

With the increased number of vehicles on our roads, auto accidents are a common occurrence. Car accidents range from minor collisions to catastrophic accidents. There are several types of car accidents in which you can be involved, including rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone crashes, and rollover accidents.

Involvement In an auto accident could be devastating for you and your family. When you are lucky to survive the crash, you may leave with serious injuries that take a long time to heal. Also, prolonged stays in hospitals with accumulated medical bills could take a toll on your financial life.

When a collision occurs, most individuals quickly point the finger at the driver as the liable party to the accident. However, many other factors could contribute to such an ordeal. Faulty vehicle parts are one of the leading causes of catastrophic accidents. When a vehicle part is defective or wrong information was put on the label, it could cost many people. Fortunately, faulty vehicle parts can be linked to manufacturers who will be held liable for your injuries.

When faulty vehicle parts cause accidents, the injuries could be devastating. However, establishing liability to the manufacturers gives you a chance to file a claim and receive compensation for the damages you suffered. Identifying a defective vehicle part as the cause of an accident could be challenging since these defects are not obvious. Therefore, seeking expert advice could be crucial if you are in such a situation.

Faulty Vehicle Parts and Auto Accidents

If you are involved in an auto accident and believe that a defective part caused the accident, you can file a claim against the piece's manufacturer. With guidance from a competent attorney, you could recover compensation from the losses associated with the accident. However, when filing the claim, you may be required to prove liability for the accident. Liability for an accident is based on negligence and thus is difficult to establish.

When you want to bring a personal injury claim against a big manufacturing company, you will be required to seek an attorney's guidance. The process of obtaining compensation could be tedious and expensive, factoring in your injuries. However, you can join a group of individuals with the same interests and form a class action, which is easier to pursue. Some of the most common vehicle part prone to defects include:

Steering System

When we purchase vehicles, we expect them to be safe and for manufacturers to look out for our best interests. Unfortunately, most companies will try to cut costs and ignore their products' safety and quality. Companies need to test their vehicles when it comes to the safety and effectiveness of the steering system. When there is an issue with the steering system, it becomes challenging to navigate the car and avoid a collision. Several potential problems could cause the ineffectiveness of the modern steering system, including:

  • Defective hydraulic lines. The hydraulic lines are designed to convey the fluid through the steering system. When the lines are not working correctly, navigation of the steering becomes difficult.
  • Loose steering. Broken or worn-out arms is one of the main causes of loose steering. Such an issue will make it difficult for a driver to make a turn or navigate the vehicle and thus colliding.
  • Leaky hoses. When the hoses and other steering parts are not connected tightly, or the hose is defective, fluid would leak from the hose. When fluid leaks from the hose, it will be challenging to turn the vehicle with the required force.
  • Issues with steering knuckles. A failing steering knuckle throws your alignment off balance and could cause the vehicle to pull to one side instead of moving on a straight line.
  • Steering system design defects. When the steering system is not appropriately designed, the manufacturer will follow the wrong design and develop a flawed system that is unsafe.

To avoid being involved in an accident due to a defective brake system, you should look out for the following signs which indicate severe steering defects:

  • Screeching noises upon turning your steering wheel
  • Rumbling of the steering when you operate your vehicle type or pass a bump
  • Drifting of the car to one side while you are driving on a straight road
  • Difficulty in turning the wheel

If the vehicle manufacturer designed or produced a faulty system and put it on the market, they need to be held liable for all accidents that result from the defective part. This is because a vehicle with faulty brakes endangers the driver, passengers, and other road users' lives.

Defective Brakes

The brake system is one of the most important safety features found in vehicles. Defective brakes are a leading cause of catastrophic accidents that result from faulty auto parts. A flawed brake system takes away the driver's control over the car and makes it difficult for them to avoid a collision. The brake system of a vehicle is very crucial. All the parts must work effectively for the system to work correctly. There two main issues that could cause defective brakes.

A vehicle's design could cause issues with the brakes. The entire line produced with a particular design will have a faulty system. Some of the most common design defects include:

  • Cracking calipers
  • Brakes that overheat quickly
  • Anti Lock brake system failure
  • Faulty parking brake
  • Leaking hydraulic lines

Design defects occur when the manufacturer tries to use shortcuts when selecting the brakes' quality of parts. Also, manufacturers may fail to have a proper testing plan to ensure the brake system is effective.

The other type of defect common in the brake system is the manufacturing defect. This means that the manufacturer or mechanic who handled the vehicle did not install the arts correctly. Brakes are a vital component of the car, and manufacturers who fail to correctly take this part cannot be excused. Discs and hydraulic lines that are not precisely installers are common manufacturing defects for tires.

Faulty brakes are responsible for several types of serious accidents, which include:

  1. Defective brakes could cause a vehicle to come into a sudden stop without a driver's intention. This could occur in the middle of the road and cause a rear-end collision since other drivers will not have time to stop. Rear-end collisions cause severe head, neck, and spinal cord injuries that could change your life.
  2. A faulty brake system will make it difficult for the vehicle to stop. When a car is moving at high speed, and the brakes fail, it may fail to stop and collide with other vehicles, stationary objects, or hit pedestrians on the road.
  3. A defective brake system causes a vehicle to lean on one side instead of being upright. Rollover accidents are the leading cause of deaths and catastrophic injuries on the road. 

Brakes are subject to wear and tear after a long time of use, and you need to replace them. However, the replacement of brakes should not be happening monthly. It is crucial always to be informed about the latest vehicle part recalls. This will help you understand the source of your trouble and file a claim if necessary.

Defective Tires

Most people underestimate the importance of the wheels on the vehicles we operate. Tires are the contact between the car and the road and are a critical element to navigation of the vehicle. Tire failure can make a vehicle lose control and cause a severe car accident. The result of tire defects is catastrophic since they contribute to a significant number of rollover accidents.

If your accident investigation results indicate that the defective tires caused the accident, you will have a faulty product case against the tires' manufacturer or distributor. Some of the most common tire defects include:

  • Tires that have passed their expiration date are dangerous. Sometimes manufacturers and distributors of tires put them on the shelves for a long time. Since every item has an expiry date, the effectiveness of the tires decreases with prolonged stay. When old tires are presented as new for sale, they are likely to fail sooner or later.
  • Tread Separation. Tread separation occurs when the tire tread detaches from the body. This type of defect results from poor installation of the steel belting and tread section. Tread separation caused by low manufacturing is noticeable as soon as you start driving. Other causes of tread separation may be over inflation and constant wear and tear.
  • Retread Failure. A retread is the process of worn-out casing tires to give a new tread. Sometimes the retread could fail, and the vehicle becomes dangerous to operate.
  • Tires that do not fit the vehicle structure. Fitting the wrong size of a tire on the vehicle is a real safety hazard. Also, having mismatching tires of the car is an equally hazardous situation. Tires that don't fit when you will wear out quickly or could detach when you are driving.
  • Mechanical issues. Worn out or misaligned suspension parts could cause your tires to wear out heavily. Tires cause friction between the vehicle and the road and are necessary for smooth movement. When the tire is worn out, the friction disappears, and there is no firm grip.

There are several warning signs that you should look out for indicating that your tires need repair or replacement:

  • When the tire tread reaches below the minimum required structure, you will need to replace them.
  • Tire bulges and blisters signal a weak spot, and such a tire needs replacement.
  • Excessive vibration may indicate the internal tire damage or bent misaligned tire or wheel.
  • Jerky treat wear caused by damaged, misaligned, or improper inflation of the tire.

Seat Belts

Wearing a seatbelt in your case is not only common sense but is the law. However, accidents and injuries still occur, which is a feature in place. A faulty seatbelt is likely to cause more severe damages to your body after an accident. Victims of an accident caused by defective seat belts suffer severe whiplash, head, spinal cord, and internal injuries.

Most people assume that failing to use a seatbelt is the only way that can suffer these injuries. However, there are manufacturing, design, and installation errors that make your seatbelts faulty, including:

  1. False latching. Sometimes the seatbelt feels okay, but it may not be fully engaged. A minor accident can cause such a seatbelt to unlatch, leaving you unprotected.
  2. Webbing. Seatbelts should be built with the ability to withstand extreme force. A belt that rips easily may be made from a defective material.
  3. Inertial unlatching. Sometimes the force from a car crash could cause a seat belt to unlatch, which should not be the case with a good quality system.
  4. Retractor failure. When a collision occurs, the seatbelt is expected to lock and hold you in place. However, when excess slack is released, the results become catastrophic.
  5. Poorly mounted systems. Seat belt systems attached to the seats are the most effective. This is because the seats function together with the safety belts. If the seats are poorly installed, the seatbelts will fail.

When you or your loved one has suffered injuries from an accident caused by seat belt failure, you can receive compensation from the manufacturer. However, you will need to establish a liability for the accident, whether in a personal injury claim or when joining a class action.

Windscreen Wipers

Windscreen wipers are not the first thing you think about when an accident occurs. However, this feature is crucial for vehicle safety. When the windscreen wipers are not functioning correctly, the driver's vision could be impaired, and the car will crash. Windscreen wipers may seem simple, but the system is complex and has different elements. The wiper arm is connected to the vehicle base and holds into the blade.

When one of the windscreen wiper system elements is faulty, the wipers' effectiveness during rainy and foggy weather windscreen wipers is crucial to clear the front of the vehicle. Colliding with other cars is easy when the windscreen wipers are defective. Poor visibility contributes to 46% of all fatal accidents in the United States. The following are common signs of deterioration and manufacturing defects for the windshields:

  • Streaking. A defect on the rubber insert often causes streaking. 
  • When the rubber that removes water droplets is broken, the windscreen is not cleared effectively.
  • Rapid wear of the rubber that results from substandard blade material is an indication of windshield wipers failure.
  • Uneven sweeps across the windshield, which is as a result of a defective blade.
  • Wipers that fail regular 

If you think your windshield wiper has an issue, you should contact the vehicle manufacturer to inquire about a current recall. Most windshield wipers fail abruptly, making it dangerous to the driver and other road users. If you suffer injuries from an accident caused by defective windscreen wipers, you can sue the windscreen wipers' manufacturer for compensation. 

Joining a Defective Auto Parts Class Action

A class action is a lawsuit brought by several individuals who are brought together by a similar problem. When you join a class action, you may not be required to appear for all court proceedings. The lead applicant represents the entire group. More than one representative in class action and the proceedings of the claim are shared among the members.

Even when you are not an active participant in the case, you will receive a significant share of the compensation. Sometimes a whole line of vehicles could have a faulty part, especially when manufactured from a single design. In this case, numerous people could suffer an accident and injuries from the same issues. When you have suffered similar wrongdoing, you can join forces and sue the liable party.

When an issue runs through many people, most individuals opt to join a class action instead of filing an individual claim. Some of the benefits you accrue from entering a class action for a defective vehicle part include:

  1. Plaintiffs who would have received nothing due to attorney fees can be restituted. Filing an individual personal injury claim could be expensive for some individuals. However, when you join a class action, you don't need to hire a private lawyer.
  2. A class action ensures that defendants who have similar injuries are treated consistently. A class action consists of individuals who have suffered the same fate. When you join the suit, you will receive a share of the proceeds.
  3. It helps to reduce the number of suits in court. When each person files an individual claim against a single company, the cases could be too many and take longer to be resolved. However, when you join the group and bring a lawsuit together, the case will take longer to be completed.
  4. Reduction of litigation cost. In every case, the primary goal is to ensure that the issue is resolved quickly. When you join a class action, the process for discovery and bringing on a motion is less expensive. 

Elements of a Faulty Vehicle Part Class Action

For you to join a class action against an auto part manufacturer, you must prove the following elements with sufficient evidence:

  • The vehicle part was faulty. If you are involved in an accident, thorough investigations are done to establish the accident's cause. If a defective part were the leading cause of the accident, it would be indicated and used as evidence to claim compensation.
  • The auto part defect existed when the product of the manufacturer. You can only sue the part manufacturer if you can establish that the weakness came from the particular part's manufacture or design.
  • The existing defect made the product dangerous. Most faulty vehicle parts pose a significant danger to the driver and other road users. The accident caused by the defective vehicle could be sufficient proof that the vehicle part was dangerous.
  • The particular defect was a significant contributing factor to your injuries. Just like proving negligence for a personal injury claim, you need to establish that the defective vehicle part is responsible for the damages you suffered. 

Seek Expert Advice Near me

Auto accidents resulting from defective vehicle parts are often catastrophic. Injuries resulting from these accidents could be detrimental to your health and financial status. Most vehicle defects cause accidents due to errors made during designing and manufacturing the parts. Fortunately, you are entitled to receive compensation if you suffer loss in a faulty part auto accident.

Sometimes you could seek compensationby filing a personal injury claim. However, when you join a group to bring on a class action, you may spend less money and time pursuing the claim and increasing your chances of receiving compensation. If you are looking to join a class action for defective auto parts, you will require expert advice. Contact Consumer Alert Now today at 800-511-0747, and we will guide you through the path of seeking compensation.