What is Product Liability In Car Crash Injury Cases?

The personal injury lawyers at Metier Law Firm Car & Truck Accident Attorneys know that when you get behind the wheel of your car, you trust that all its safety features will protect you in the event of a car crash. Every time you buckle your seat belt, rely on your airbags, or drive knowing your vehicle's roof structure should protect you in a rollover, you're putting your life in the hands of automotive manufacturers and their safety systems. But what happens when these crucial safety features fail due to defective manufacturing or design?

The consequences can be devastating. A seat belt that unexpectedly

unlatches during a car collision can turn a survivable accident into a tragic event. A roof support that crumples in a rollover can lead to catastrophic injuries. When automotive safety systems fail, what was meant to protect can instead become the source of serious injury or death.

That's where products liability law comes in. Products liability holds manufacturers, distributors, and sellers legally responsible when their defective products cause harm. In the context of auto products liability, this means any party in the chain of manufacturing and distribution could be held accountable for your injuries.

As highly rated car accident attorneys, Metier Law Firm has helped numerous clients pursue personal injury claims related to defective automotive components. Our car crash lawyers understand that when safety systems fail, the resulting injuries often require extensive medical treatment and can lead to permanent disability, lost wages, and significant pain and suffering.

Whether you've been injured by a defective airbag deployment, a malfunctioning seat belt, or any other failed safety system, you need a personal injury attorney who understands the complexities of products liability law and has the resources to take on major automotive manufacturers. At Metier Law Firm Car and Truck Accident Attorneys, we've built our reputation as the some of the best car crash attorneys around by successfully handling complex auto products liability cases and securing the damages our clients deserve.

Understanding Products Liability in Vehicle Safety

Products liability is a crucial area of personal injury law that holds manufacturers, distributors, and sellers legally responsible when their defective products cause harm. In the automotive industry, this legal framework is particularly important because defective vehicle components can lead to catastrophic injuries or death during a car crash.

When you purchase a vehicle, you're not just buying transportation – you're investing in a complex system of safety features designed to protect you and your passengers during a car collision. Each component, from the frame to the smallest sensor, must work perfectly to ensure occupant safety. When any part of this system fails due to defective design, manufacturing, or inadequate warnings, the consequences can be devastating. Common examples of auto products liability cases include:

Defective Seat Belt Systems

Modern vehicles use sophisticated seat belt mechanisms that should remain securely latched during a car crash. However, defective seat belts might unlock during collision, fail to properly restrain occupants, or cause severe internal injuries due to excessive force. Our car crash lawyers have seen cases where seemingly minor defects in seat belt retractors or latch mechanisms led to catastrophic injuries.

Weak Roof Support Structures

Vehicle roofs must maintain structural integrity during rollover accidents. When roof supports are inadequately designed or manufactured with substandard materials, they can collapse under the vehicle's weight. As personal injury attorneys, we've witnessed how collapsed roofs can lead to severe head trauma, spinal cord injuries, and fatal crushing injuries.

Airbag System Failures

The timing and force of airbag deployment are critical for occupant protection. Defective airbags might fail to deploy in a car accident, deploy with excessive force causing injury, or deploy unnecessarily during normal driving conditions. Our car accident lawyers have handled cases involving both deployment failures and injuries from explosive deployments.

Brake System Defects

Brake failure can turn an ordinary drive into a nightmare. Whether due to defective master cylinders, brake lines, or electronic brake control systems, these failures often lead to high-speed car collisions. The personal injury claims resulting from brake failures can be complex, often involving multiple liable parties.

Tire Defects

Modern tires are engineered for specific vehicles and driving conditions. Manufacturing defects can lead to sudden blowouts, tread separation, or other failures that cause the driver to lose control. Our car crash attorneys have extensive experience proving how tire defects directly contribute to serious accidents.

Each of these defects represents a serious breach of the manufacturer's duty

to ensure vehicle safety. At Metier Law Firm, our experienced car accident lawyers understand how to investigate these complex cases, identify all liable parties, and build compelling arguments for maximum compensation. When automotive safety systems fail, having the best car crash attorney on your side can make the difference between a denied claim and full compensation for your injuries.

Types of Product Defects in Vehicle Cases

When pursuing a personal injury claim related to auto products liability, your car accident lawyer will need to prove one of three types of defects:

Design Defects

These are fundamental flaws in how the product was conceived. For example, a vehicle roof support system designed with insufficient strength to protect occupants in rollover accidents.

Manufacturing Defects

These occur during production. A seat belt might be properly designed but assembled with substandard materials or incorrect installation, making it more likely to fail during a car accident.

Marketing Defects

These involve inadequate warnings about product risks or unclear instructions for proper use. For instance, failing to warn about weight limitations for vehicle safety systems.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

In auto products liability cases, multiple parties may be responsible for damages:

•     Vehicle manufacturers
•     Parts manufacturers
•     Car dealerships
•     Parts distributors
•     Service centers that installed defective components

As your trusted car crash attorney, Metier Law Firm will investigate all potentially liable parties to ensure you receive full compensation for your injuries.

‍

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a product liability claim in a car accident context?

A product liability claim in a car accident case argues that a defective vehicle or one of its parts caused or worsened the injuries sustained in a crash. Instead of focusing on driver error, this type of claim seeks to hold the manufacturer, distributor, or seller of the defective product responsible. For example, if airbags fail to deploy or a tire blows out due to a defect, the resulting injuries could be grounds for a product liability lawsuit.

2. Who can be held responsible for a defective auto part?

Liability for a defective product can extend to the entire "chain of distribution." This means multiple parties could be held responsible for the harm caused by a faulty auto part. An experienced product liability attorney will investigate every entity involved, which can include:

• The vehicle manufacturer (e.g., Ford, Toyota, GM)
• The manufacturer of the specific defective part (e.g., a brake or airbag supplier)
• The car dealership or retailer that sold the vehicle
• The distributor or wholesaler

3. What are the main types of vehicle defects in a lawsuit?

Product liability cases typically involve one of three types of defects:

• Design Defects: The entire product line is inherently dangerous, even if manufactured correctly, because the design itself is flawed.
• Manufacturing Defects: An error or flaw occurred during the production process, making a specific unit or batch of the product unsafe.
• Marketing Defects (Failure to Warn): The product was sold without adequate instructions or warnings about non-obvious dangers. A common example is not providing a clear warning about the risks of turning off an airbag.

4. What are common examples of defective auto parts that cause injuries?

While any part of a vehicle can be defective, some components are more commonly involved in product liability claims. These frequently include safety-critical parts such as:

• Faulty airbags that deploy improperly or fail to deploy at all
• Defective tires that are prone to blowouts or tread separation
• Flawed seatbelts and restraint systems
• Malfunctioning brakes or acceleration systems
• Unstable vehicle designs that make them prone to rollovers

5. How do you prove that a vehicle defect caused my injuries?

Proving a product liability claim is complex and requires a thorough investigation. It is not enough to simply show that a part failed; you must prove the part was defective and that the defect was the direct cause of your injuries. This often involves preserving the vehicle as evidence, hiring forensic engineers to inspect the failed component, and using accident reconstruction experts to demonstrate how the defect led to the crash or worsened its outcome.

‍

Why Choose Metier Law Firm?

As we've been recognized many times as some of the best car crash lawyers in the region, we understand the complexities of auto products liability cases. Our personal injury attorneys have extensive experience proving manufacturing defects and holding large corporations accountable for their dangerous products. We've gone toe-to-toe with manufacturers with industry giants like Toyota, Takata and Honda and won for our clients.

If you've been injured in a car accident due to a defective vehicle component, don't wait to seek legal help. Contact Metier Law Firm today at 866-377-3800 or visit www.metierlaw.com to schedule a free consultation. Our experienced car accident lawyers will evaluate your case and fight for the damages you deserve.

Let our personal injury attorneys put their expertise to work for you. With Metier Law Firm, you're not just getting a car crash attorney – you're getting a dedicated team committed to securing your future.