How To Proceed When You Are Injured Due To A Vehicle Defect
What should you do after being injured in an accident that was caused all or in part by a defective vehicle?
Cars are made up of thousands of components. Unfortunately, when one component is defective it can easily cause an accident. If you were injured in an automobile accident as the result of a defective car part, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced attorney can represent you in bringing a products liability lawsuit against the auto manufacturer and other parties.
Steps You Can Take After an Accident
If you know what caused the accident or exacerbated your injuries (for example your airbag deployed for no reason or your accelerator got stuck) it is important to bring the vehicle to a mechanic you trust so that they can document this. If you are unsure what caused the accident or your injuries, but believe that it may have been a defective part, you should also immediately bring your vehicle to a trusted mechanic so that they can determine whether a faulty component was at play. Once you find that a defective component was involved you should then look to see whether the manufacturer ever issued a recall.
Some common defects of automobiles include:
- Airbag failure
- Premature airbag deployment
- Breaking or unhooking of seatbelts
- Unintended acceleration
- Brake failure
- Roof collapse
At this point, you should take it upon yourself to document as much as you can about the accident. Get the mechanics findings in writing and gather police reports and insurance records. You should also take pictures of the vehicle inside and out. You may also document the severity of your injury from your accident and the types of injury or wound care you’re undertaking.
Once you have done all this you are ready to speak to an attorney. You should seek out someone who is experienced with auto defect litigation and who deals with car manufacturers on a regular basis.