You’ll see a variety of vehicles on Marietta roads every day. Unfortunately, some of those vehicles will lead to injuries. While driver negligence causes most auto-related injuries, some accidents involve design or manufacturing defects.
If the defective design or manufacture of a vehicle (or its components) injured you, you have options. Talk to a Marietta car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
John Foy & Associates can help. Our knowledgeable and compassionate lawyers have over 20 years of experience. Plus, we will not charge you unless we win your case. To get a FREE consultation today, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
What to Know About Defective Vehicle Designs
According to product liability laws, manufacturers must provide safe products (Georgia Code Section 51-1-11.1). If a dangerous product causes injury, the maker could be responsible. You can seek financial recovery for your injuries.
In a product liability case, you must prove one of three points:
- The product has a defective design.
- The product has a defect from its manufacture.
- There is a “marketing defect,” meaning the manufacturer failed to warn about a hazard.
Vehicle defects can lead to severe and deadly accidents. The problem might cause a collision. Other times, it could cause the vehicle to malfunction and become dangerous, such as catching fire.
If an issue with a vehicle caused your injuries, don’t wait. Delaying can hurt your compensation chances. Contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.
Your lawyer can determine your legal options. If you have a case, you can file a claim or lawsuit for compensation. However, it’s best to consult with a lawyer first of all. Otherwise, it will be hard to navigate such a complicated case.
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Determining Who Is Responsible for a Defective Vehicle Design
Before you file a claim, you will need to know who is liable. The liable party is responsible for your injuries. In a defective design or manufacture case, the responsible party could be:
- The vehicle manufacturer
- The parts supplier
- A dealership
- The shipping or distribution company
- An auto parts store
Your lawyer will investigate your accident. They will trace your injuries back to find out what went wrong. Your lawyer will also look to see if there have been any warnings or recalls for your car.
Manufacturers Have a Duty of Care to You
In Georgia, automakers must exercise reasonable care when making vehicles. They must also ensure each car is “crashworthy.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), crashworthiness is about decreasing severe and fatal injuries.
Unfortunately, car accidents will happen. We can’t avoid all of them altogether. But crashworthiness strives to protect those in the car as much as possible during a crash.
Automakers have a legal duty to design and manufacture cars as reasonably safe as they can. When a vehicle has an unexpected defect, it means the maker has failed in their duty. The same applies to companies that make specific vehicle parts.
Building Your Automobile Defect Claim
You should not have to pay for injuries from a defective product. If the faulty design or manufacture of a car injured you, you have rights. You can seek compensation through a product liability claim.
Building a strong claim requires knowledge of vehicle creation. We highly recommend working with an experienced car accident lawyer. Your lawyer will know where to look to determine what went wrong.
Modern cars can have thousands of parts. If one thing goes wrong, it can be dangerous. Plus, a lot of vehicle parts come from other companies. At John Foy & Associates, we will thoroughly investigate your accident. We’ll figure out who is liable for your damages and begin building your case. Call us at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online for a FREE consultation.
Personal Injury Claims Versus Class-Action Lawsuits
If the same vehicle defect injured many other people, you might be able to join a class-action lawsuit. A class-action trial is a mass tort. Many injury victims take action against the same company.
Some lawyers will use mailings or media messages to tell people about a class-action case. If you believe a class-action lawsuit applies for you, contact a lawyer today.
If the vehicle defect only affects you, you might have a personal injury case. You can seek compensation for your damages like:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
A car accident lawyer can help you build a strong case. They will also deal with the insurance company to protect your rights.
Wrongful Death for Defective Vehicle Design or Manufacture
Unfortunately, vehicle defects sometimes cause deaths. If you lost a loved one in this way, we are very sorry, and we are here to help.
Our lawyers can help you build a wrongful death claim on behalf of your loved one. We never want to add to your stress, so we don’t charge any upfront fees. We won’t collect payment at all unless we win your case.
Types of Vehicle or Vehicle Part Defects
Vehicle manufacturers should thoroughly design and test their products. Each car should be confirmed as reasonably safe when it goes out. But defective products do sometimes happen.
Examples of defective vehicles or vehicle components include:
- Defective tires
- Defective seatbelts
- Faulty brakes
- Vehicle design errors
- Airbags that don’t work
- Malfunctioning cruise control
- Defective fuel systems
- Rollover propensity issues
Any of these defects can cause severe or fatal injuries. If you suspect you have a case, don’t wait. Reach out to a trusted attorney as soon as possible.
Our car accident lawyers work on a contingency basis. We don’t collect a fee unless we win your case for you. Plus, the consultation is always free of charge.
Talk to a Marietta Defective Design or Manufacturing Lawyer for Free Today
If defective vehicle designs or manufacturing injured you, we can help. At John Foy & Associates, we have 20-plus years of experience. Our firm has become one of the largest and most respected in Georgia.
Contact us today for a FREE consultation. We’ll listen to your concerns and answer any questions you have. If you decide to work with us, there is no charge unless we win.
To schedule your FREE consultation, call us at (404) 400-4000, or contact us online.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
