When critical vehicle safety systems like tires, seatbelts, or airbags malfunction, the consequences can be life-changing, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. Product liability is an area of personal injury law that holds manufacturers and other responsible parties accountable for such defects. This article explores how vehicle product failures can lead to severe harm while providing an overview of the legal recourse available to those affected. Understanding these risks and your legal rights is essential to protecting your safety and securing potential compensation.
What is product liability?
Product liability is an area of personal injury law that holds manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable when defective products cause harm to consumers. Unlike general personal injury or car accident claims, product liability cases focus on inherent product design flaws, manufacturing errors, or insufficient marketing warnings and instructions.
When applied to vehicles, product liability addresses defective safety components like tires, seatbelts, or airbags, which can result in severe injuries or fatalities if they malfunction. These cases aim to hold those responsible for creating and distributing unsafe products, allowing victims to seek justice and compensation for their injuries.
In the following sections, we’ll explain common causes of tire, seatbelt, and airbag failures and the legal options available.
Tire Failure
Tire failures are a leading cause of severe vehicle accidents. When a defect in manufacturing or design compromises a tire’s safety, passengers risk catastrophic injury or worse. These failures can happen unexpectedly and can be devastating, especially when they cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
The most common types of tire failures include:
- Blowouts: A sudden loss of air pressure that causes the driver to lose control.
- Tread Separation: The tire’s tread separates from the body, creating dangerous instability.
- Sidewall Failures: Structural weaknesses in the sidewall that can lead to failure under pressure.
These issues often stem from manufacturing errors, design flaws, or improper installation and maintenance. Any of these defects can weaken a tire’s integrity, dramatically increasing the risk of sudden failure and serious accidents.
Seatbelt Failure
Seatbelts are vital for passenger safety. They are designed to lock during sudden movements and reduce the risk of fatal injuries by up to 45%. They function through inertia locks, which secure passengers during a crash, and pre-tensioners, which tighten the belt to minimize impact. However, when seatbelt systems fail, the consequences can be severe, leaving drivers and passengers vulnerable to serious injuries.
Common seatbelt failures include:
- Inertia Lock Failure: The seatbelt may fail to lock correctly, causing the passenger to be thrown forward.
- Webbing Failure: The belt fabric may tear or fray, especially in high-impact accidents.
- Latch Malfunction: The buckle may not latch securely or release unexpectedly during a crash.
These defects can result from poor manufacturing, improper design, or inadequate testing. Without proper restraint, a malfunctioning seatbelt fails to provide the essential protection needed during an accident, leading to a higher risk of severe and fatal outcomes.
Airbag Failures
Airbags are essential safety devices designed to protect passengers during a crash. However, airbags can fail in several ways:
- Non-deployment: The airbag fails to deploy during a crash, leaving passengers unprotected.
- Late Deployment: The airbag deploys too late, potentially causing more harm.
- Unexpected Deployment: Airbags deploy without cause, leading to accidents or injuries.
Defective airbags can result in severe injuries, whether due to design or manufacturing flaws. In such cases, the responsible parties may be held liable, especially if they were aware of the defect but failed to issue a recall.
Legal Recourse for Victims of Vehicle Product Failures
If you’ve been severely injured due to a defective vehicle component, you may be entitled to seek compensation from the parties involved in the design, production, marketing, or maintenance of these components.
The types of damages you may recover in a product liability case include:
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses, both immediate and long-term
- Mental anguish
- Disability or physical impairment
- Costs for medical devices or home healthcare
- Home modifications required for new disabilities
- Vehicle repair costs
- Emotional trauma from the accident
- Punitive damages in cases of extreme negligence
The compensation amount often depends on the severity of your injuries and how the product failure contributed to those injuries.
How Product Liability Attorney Can Help
At Norman Mittman Law, we understand the complexities of product liability personal injury cases. Our team combines a broad range of legal expertise with a solid commitment to integrity. We provide honest and transparent representation, ensuring clients receive dedicated support throughout their legal journey. Our passion for justice has led to impressive settlements and significant compensation for our clients, with a focus on delivering exceptional results.
If you suspect a vehicle defect caused your severe injuries, contact us for a free case evaluation. Our product liability experts will guide you through the legal process to help protect your rights and secure the justice and compensation you deserve.