The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates1 that there were more than 2.3 million people injured in motor vehicle accidents in 2012. While statistics2 point to driver error as the most common cause of car accidents, a significant number occur each year due to the failure of vehicle parts or equipment. When products designed for consumer use cause injury because of negligent design, manufacture, or marketing, victims are often legally entitled to compensation for the losses they sustain. It is important for car accident victims to be aware of the fact that not all vehicle part failures are obvious, and an accident that you believe was caused by poor reaction time or lack of awareness may actually have been caused by a vehicle part defect. As a result, anyone who has been involved in a car accident should have the facts of their case reviewed by an experienced St. Louis car crash lawyer as soon as possible.
A Wide Variety of Part Failures Can Cause Accidents
Modern motor vehicles are extremely complicated pieces of machinery that consistent of thousands of individual parts. Some of these parts are more important than others, and some are absolutely essential to the safe operation of a vehicle. Some examples of vehicle parts that may fail and cause serious accidents are listed below.
- Brakes
- Windshield wipers
- Steering mechanisms
- Headlights
- Horns
- Tires
- Ignition switches
- Axles
- Airbags
- Anti-lock braking systems
Many other part failures could potentially cause a car accident, so anyone who has been injured in a motor vehicle collision should talk to an attorney as soon as possible.
Contact a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer Today to Discuss Your Case at No Cost to You
When car parts and equipment fail, innocent victims can sustain extremely serious injuries. Fortunately, in many cases people injured in accidents caused by equipment failures can recover compensation from the vehicle manufacturer or retailer. In some cases, other parties could potentially be held liable as well. To schedule a free consultation with one of the experienced car accident lawyers of The Bruning Law Firm, call our office at 314-328-5632.
References:
- http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812016.pdf
- https://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/blog/2013/12/human-error-cause-vehicle-crashes
