Help for Those Injured by Defective Car Parts
Injury or damage to an occupant of a vehicle due to a defective issue or product with a car, truck, SUV, motorcycle, or other motor vehicle or part is a serious problem. It’s called auto product liability. If you or someone in your vehicle was injured due to auto product liability, you should speak with an experienced Fort Worth personal injury lawyer to protect your legal rights and get the justice you deserve.
Many different companies are involved in manufacturing a motorized vehicle. Manufacturers buy their parts and fasteners from other suppliers in order to manufacture each vehicle. This fact means that an auto product liability lawsuit can have more than one defendant. Sometimes, the person initiating the lawsuit will name more than one defendant. Many times the primary defendant will file a counter claim or petition the court to include other defendants. Defendants can include the vehicle manufacturer, automotive supply shop, and even a dealership. That list is not all inclusive. It is important to note that if the Fort Worth auto product liability suit deals with a replacement part, such as a set of tires you bought, the vehicle manufacturer won’t be a defendant.
Proving Liability in Fort Worth
Certain things must be proven in an auto product liability case. It is important that you speak with a product liability lawyer so that an investigation team can become involved to preserve evidence as soon as possible.
The vehicle must be defectively designed or have a manufacturing defect. A defective design would affect all vehicles like yours. In short, the entire design is dangerously flawed. A manufacturing defect means that something during the time they built your vehicle, it was damaged or flawed. Think about the different vehicle recalls lately and you will understand the idea behind the term manufacturing defect.
You must have actually suffered a loss due to the defective design or manufacturing defect. The loss can be damage to your vehicle, medical bills, lost wages, wrongful death, and even compensation for pain and suffering. However, any and all of those losses must be related directly to the defect. In short, receiving a recall notice and not suffering a loss because of your experience due to the defect is not enough to file an auto products liability case.
What To Do After a Wreck in Fort Worth
If you are in a wreck that you believe is the fault of an auto product defect, there are a few things you need to do in order to preserve your legal rights. First, get medical treatment. Many back and neck injuries don’t appear immediately and so many people wait until they experience pain. There are two problems with this. The first problem is that by waiting, you could be making the injuries worse. The second problem is that insurance companies frown on claims where the person injured did not seek medical care right away. Next, do everything possible to ensure that your vehicle is not parted out or sold. An experienced lawyer can have an expert inspect the vehicle and the parts. Another important step is to not sign anything given to you by the insurance company without showing it to an attorney.
The defendants in an auto products liability case will use many different legal theories as a defense. One of the main defenses used is to say that the person injured operated the vehicle in a reckless manner. Even if the driver is partially responsible for the accident, the auto product defect may have contributed to the severity of the wreck and the injuries.
Contact Our Auto Product Liability Attorneys in Fort Worth for a Free Consultation
Contact Crowe Arnold & Majors, LLP today if you are involved in an auto product liability wreck in Fort Worth using our toll-free number: (214) 231-0555. We offer flexible hours to accommodate your busy life. If you can’t come to us, one of our attorneys can come to you in your home or hospital. Don’t wait. Call us now for a free consultation.
