Vehicle safety isn’t just a matter of convenience—it’s a critical aspect of public health and personal security. When manufacturers fail to ensure their vehicles meet safety standards, they must take responsibility for the consequences. Understanding who bears liability in these situations helps protect your rights and gives you an opportunity to receive fair compensation after an accident caused by vehicle defects.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by a defect, you need the assistance of a seasoned auto defect lawyer who knows how to pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact Ted A. Greve & Associates today for a free case evaluation with an experienced lawyer.
Understanding Auto Defect Liability
When you drive on the busy highways of North Carolina or Georgia, you expect your vehicle to function correctly and keep you safe. Unfortunately, auto defects affect thousands of vehicles each year, putting drivers and passengers at serious risk. Auto defect liability falls under the broader category of product liability law, which holds manufacturers and sellers accountable for releasing dangerous or defective items into the marketplace.
Identifying Types of Vehicle Defects
Not all vehicle defects present the same dangers or indicate the same type of negligence. Recognizing the category of defect involved in your case helps determine liability and build a stronger claim.
Design Defects
Design defects exist before manufacturing even begins. These flaws originate at the conceptual stage when engineers create vehicle specifications and blueprints. Even when manufactured perfectly according to plan, these vehicles remain inherently dangerous due to their fundamental design.
Common examples include:
- Vehicles with high centers of gravity are prone to rollovers. These designs create instability during emergency maneuvers.
- Fuel systems positioned in vulnerable locations: This design choice increases fire risk during collisions.
- Inadequate crumple zones: Without proper structural design, vehicles transfer crash energy to occupants rather than absorbing it.
Manufacturing Defects
Manufacturing defects occur during production when assembly errors or quality control failures allow faulty components to reach consumers. Unlike design defects, these problems typically affect specific vehicles or batches rather than entire models.
Examples of manufacturing defects include:
- Improperly installed brake components, leading to unexpected failure during emergency stops
- Faulty airbag deployment systems, preventing these crucial safety features from working correctly
- Improperly torqued suspension parts, creating dangerous handling characteristics and potential separation
Failure to Warn or Inadequate Instructions
Manufacturers must provide clear warnings about potential dangers and proper usage instructions. When they fail to communicate essential safety information, they may bear liability for resulting injuries.
This category includes:
- Missing safety warnings about vehicle operation limitations, such as load capacity or towing restrictions
- Inadequate instructions for safety systems, like proper child seat installation points
- Failure to communicate known risks when manufacturers discover problems but don’t properly alert owners
Identifying Liable Parties in Auto Defect Cases
Auto defect cases often involve multiple responsible parties. Identifying all potentially liable entities ensures you pursue complete compensation for your injuries.
Responsible parties may include:
- Vehicle manufacturers: Companies that design and build the complete automobile bear primary responsibility for its overall safety.
- Parts manufacturers: Suppliers who create specific components like brakes, airbags, or electronics may share liability when those parts fail.
- Dealerships: Sellers sometimes bear responsibility for failing to address known issues before sale or failing to complete recall work.
- Distributors and shippers: Entities that transport vehicles can create damage through improper handling.
- Repair facilities: Shops that perform inadequate repairs or maintenance may share liability in some circumstances.
The complexity of the supply chain means your attorney must investigate thoroughly to identify all responsible parties. This approach can maximize your potential compensation while helping hold all negligent parties accountable.
Proving Liability in Auto Defect Cases
Building a successful auto defect case tends to require strategic evidence-gathering and expert testimony. The process differs significantly from typical car accident cases, where driver error often plays the central role.
Gathering and Preserving Evidence
After an accident involving a potential vehicle defect, preserving evidence becomes critical to your case. Take these essential steps:
- Document everything possible at the scene: Photos of the vehicle, accident location, and visible defects can provide crucial evidence.
- Maintain possession of the vehicle: The vehicle itself represents the most important piece of physical evidence.
- Collect witness statements: Eyewitness accounts may reveal important details about how the defect manifested.
- Secure maintenance records: Documentation showing proper maintenance counters claims that poor upkeep caused the failure.
- Research similar incidents: Evidence of similar failures can strengthen your claim that a systemic defect exists.
Your attorney will work with industry experts to examine the vehicle and determine precisely what went wrong. This investigation forms the foundation of your case against the manufacturer or other responsible parties.
Demonstrating Causation and Negligence
To succeed in an auto defect liability case, you must show that:
- The vehicle contained a defect
- The defect directly caused your injuries
- The vehicle was being used as intended
- The vehicle hadn’t been substantially modified
North Carolina and Georgia apply different standards to product liability cases. North Carolina uses contributory negligence, which can prevent you from recovering compensation if you bear partial responsibility. Georgia applies modified comparative negligence, allowing recovery as long as you’re less than 50 percent responsible for your injuries. These distinctions highlight why working with attorneys familiar with local laws offers significant advantages.
Auto defect cases often involve large corporations with extensive legal resources. Their defense teams frequently argue that driver error, not product defects, caused the accident. Having experienced representation levels the playing field and protects your rights throughout the legal process.
Contact Ted A. Greve & Associates Today
If you or a loved one suffered injuries due to an auto defect in North Carolina or Georgia, Ted A. Greve & Associates can give you the skilled representation you need. Our team includes not only experienced trial lawyers but also a chiropractic physician who brings valuable medical insight to your case. This unique combination helps us understand both the legal and physical aspects of your injuries.
We handle auto defect cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no legal fees unless we win your case. Contact Ted A. Greve & Associates today for a free, confidential consultation about your auto defect case. We’ll fight passionately to hold responsible parties accountable and secure the compensation you need for the future you deserve.
