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Injuries From Auto Defects Overview

Consumers expect that when they buy a vehicle, like a car or truck, it will be safe to drive.

Companies owe consumers a duty to keep them safe from defects, whether in the design of the vehicle or in manufacturing and to warn them of foreseeable dangers.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. Whether due to negligence or, worse, to pad their bottom lines, these companies — manufacturers, sellers, mechanics to name a few — sometimes fail to live up to this critical duty. When that happens, consumers are faced with a serious risk of injury, disfigurement, and even death.

Consumers expect that when they buy a vehicle, such as a car or a truck, it will be safe to drive.

Companies owe consumers a duty to keep them safe from defects, whether in the design of the vehicle or in manufacturing and to warn them of foreseeable dangers.

Unfortunately, that does not always happen. Whether due to negligence or intentional misrepresentation, these companies — manufacturers, sellers, and mechanics — sometimes fail to live up to this critical duty.

When that happens, consumers are faced with a serious risk of injury, disfigurement, or even death.

Airbag failures, brake failures, mechanical failures, and SUV rollovers are just a few of the unacceptable automobile defects that our attorneys take to court.

Whether you are a driver, passenger, or bystander, these companies may be responsible for your or your loved one’s injuries.

If you have been harmed because of an automobile defect, it is in your best interest to contact an attorney before giving statements to an insurance company.

Even if you have given an insurance company a statement as to why your accident happened, a qualified and experienced attorney can seek maximum recovery on your behalf.

Airbag Failures

Airbags are supposed to reduce the likelihood of serious injury in an automobile accident. They are an integral part of car crashworthiness.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that thousands of lives are saved each year when airbags work properly.

However, in recent years massive airbag recalls have been announced to address issues with defective airbags, impacting tens of millions of vehicles.

Airbags that are improperly designed or improperly manufactured can fail in these primary ways:

Failure to Deploy and Improperly Deployed

Defects with airbags in numerous makes and models of vehicles cause airbags to fail to deploy or improperly deploy in serious accidents.

Sometimes all the airbags in a vehicle will fail to deploy. Other times only a single airbag is defective. When airbags fail to deploy, the crashworthiness value of the vehicle is lost.

Concussions and broken bones are common in failure to deploy cases. People can be seriously injured or even killed in these circumstances.

Overdeployment and Detonation

The largest auto industry safety recalls in history have involved concerns over airbag detonation.

Airbag manufacturers, including Takata, widely used airbags designed with the compound ammonium nitrate as the accelerant for deployment.

Ammonium nitrate is the same compound used in the Oklahoma City Bombing and that caused mass devastation in the West Texas explosion.

Unfortunately, ammonium nitrate can be subject to detonation on deployment. When an airbag detonates, the result can be catastrophic.

SUV Rollovers

Although sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are some of the most popular vehicles in Texas, due to their high center of gravity, they are prone to rollover accidents.

Due to the serious nature of rollover accidents, the driver and passengers often suffer life-altering or fatal injuries when they are tossed around (or even from) the rolling vehicle.

The cause of the rollover can sometimes be attributed to poor design or mechanical failures causing or contributing to the rollover accident.

When these failures cause serious injuries or death, the responsible parties must be held responsible.

The lawyers at Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP have experience handling serious product liability lawsuits and have been involved in the successful resolution of nationally-recognized auto defect injury and death cases.

If you have been injured or have had a loved one tragically killed by an auto defect, contact us today for a free consultation.

Seatbelt Failure

Seatbelts are the first and most basic piece of safety equipment in any automobile. They provide a crucial means of protection during a collision.

They are so important and critical to safety that the law requires you to wear them. The very basic function of a seatbelt is to restrain a passenger during impact to prevent serious injury.

However, when that seat belt has a manufacturing or design defect, it can lead to serious injury or even death. 

Although seatbelts themselves are one of the longest-standing safety devices installed in motor vehicles, they can still be defective.

The truth is that seat belts do not always work as they should, and passengers may end up being ejected from the vehicle if they fail to work properly. 

There are numerous injuries that can occur as a result of a seatbelt defect including:

No matter the extent of the injury, it can be extremely traumatic knowing an instrument meant to keep you safe failed to do so. At Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP, we understand, and we are here for you.

Just as there can be many types of injuries that occur with seat belts there are also many types of seat belt defects.

However, the most common seat belt defects are the following:

  • False latching, when a seatbelt appears fastened but comes undone during even a minor collision;
  • Failure to lock or retract in place;
  • Defects in the material of the seatbelt; and
  • Defective mount.

Vehicle manufacturers have a duty to make and design seat belts that work as intended. If you or someone you love was injured in a motor vehicle accident because the seatbelt failed to function as it should, you may be entitled to compensation.

Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP has attorneys that specialize in auto defect injuries and can advocate for you. 

Brake Failure 

Brake failure often occurs without warning. Drivers usually experience brake failure suddenly and are unable to stop or slow down in any way.

This may lead to a devastating crash with unimaginable consequences. Although simply named, brakes are actually a complex system with many parts including a disc, rotors, and calipers.

All it takes is for one of these parts to have a defect to lead to trouble.

If you believe you were injured in a car accident as a result of brake failure, you should speak with a knowledgeable automotive defect attorney in Houston immediately.

Tire Defect

Thousands of car crashes each year result from tire blowouts. A tire blowout occurs when a tire suddenly bursts or explodes or loses air very rapidly.

The sudden loss of air can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash. It is possible that there was a defect in the design or manufacture of the tire to cause it to suddenly blow out.   

A common type of defect is in the design, and it is commonly referred to as “tread separation.” 

Proving a tire defect requires the skill, resources, and dedication of an auto defect attorney. The lawyers of Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP are well-versed in all aspects of automobile defects and the law. Call us today!

Post-Collision Fires

After a car crash, a vehicle may catch on fire if there is a defective design or component to the vehicle. A vehicle fire can cause catastrophic injury, including severe burns and even death.

The manufacturer may be liable for injuries that occur as a result. Some of the common causes of post-collision or even spontaneous car fires are:

  • Gas leaks caused by defective fuel systems;
  • Faulty electrical wiring;
  • Defective battery, and
  • Engine defects.

At Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP, our attorneys are dedicated to our clients. We will hold each and every negligent party accountable for any injuries you or a loved one has suffered as a result of a post-accident fire. 

Why You Need an Auto Defect Attorney

If you were injured due to a vehicle defect, you might be wondering why you need an attorney. The laws and legal concepts that come into play in a defective auto part claim can be complex.

Aside from potentially having a run-of-the-mill negligence claim, you may also have a strict liability claim against the manufacturer for the defect.

It is also possible you have a claim for breach of warranty if the defect violated your vehicle warranty. 

Further, there is a possibility that there may already be a class-action lawsuit filed if other people were injured by the same defect.

Determining what claims you may have is best left up to an experienced automotive defect attorney in Texas. 

It is also important to have an attorney because you may find yourself in a David versus Goliath situation. Attempting to go alone up against a car manufacturer with endless amounts of money and resources is not a good idea.

It is best not to attempt such a battle yourself. Make sure you are armed with a fierce advocate. 

Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP Can Help You Recover Damages

As in any personal injury action, once we prove the negligent parties’ liability, we will show the extent of damage caused by their actions. You may be entitled to compensation for:

  • Past, present, and future medical expenses;
  • Lost wages, including future earnings if the injuries leave you unable to work or limit your capability to earn future wages;
  • Pain and suffering;
  • Property damage;
  • Disfigurement; and 
  • Mental anguish.

A defective car lawyer in Texas is going to provide you with the best chance to recover the damages you deserve.

At Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP, we have dedicated our careers to helping our clients receive compensation for their injuries. 

Our Houston Auto Defect Attorney Is Here to Help You!

If you were injured in a car crash and suspect an auto defect may have played a role, contact us at Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP.

Our attorneys have the expertise, experience, and compassion to get you the compensation you deserve.

Car manufacturers are responsible to ensure that each and every automobile they send out on the road is reasonably safe to drive.

Let us fight on your behalf. Don’t wait, call us today to schedule a time convenient to you to discuss your case.