In the event of a car accident, it is often assumed that one of the drivers involved was responsible for the collision. This, however, is not always the case. Some car accidents are the fault neither of the driver nor any other person close to the accident, but rather the manufacturer who installed defective or malfunctioning auto parts.
Accidents resulting from defective auto parts–an umbrella term that covers anything from failing brakes to engine malfunction to ineffective seatbelts to exploding airbags–can occur suddenly and without warning (as there is no telling at what particular moment the brakes will give way or the engine will malfunction). The unpredictability of malfunctioning auto parts can leave the driver, as well as anyone else in the nearby vicinity, vulnerable to serious injury. Sadly, because of this, car accidents from defective auto parts are also some of the most deadly.
By now, you may have heard this tragic story out of Atlantic City last week: A mother of five was on her way to fill out a job application at Sam’s Club when the car she was driving experienced a mechanical problem that caused it to cross into the opposite lane. Her car was then hit by an oncoming vehicle that lodged itself on top of the first, flattening it and trapping the passengers inside. According to the police report, the mother driver was taken to AlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City where she was pronounced dead later that day. Sadly, this story, which demonstrates just how severe the repercussions of a design or manufacturing error can be, is just one of many like it. This past year alone, a number of major automakers have issued recalls and expressed concern over the safety of the products they put out on the market. For more information on recalls and how to file a safety complaint, consult this booklet from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident stemming from a design or manufacturing error, do not hesitate to contact the auto accident attorneys at Breslin and Breslin as soon as possible. Promptly consulting a knowledgeable and experienced auto accident attorney not only increases your chances for a monetary recovery, but also may save the lives of people who drive similarly flawed automobiles. Those involved in a car accident caused by defective auto parts may be entitled to a recovery for damages including, but not necessarily limited to, lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering and punitive damages. To find out if you can file a claim, contact the trusted car accident attorneys at Breslin and Breslin for a free case evaluation today.