According to the Insurance Journal, 30.7 million vehicles were recalled in 2017. There are many more vehicles subject to recalls than this. These numbers don’t account for the vehicles that have been recalled since, nor does this number account for the vehicles that were recalled prior to this for which the vehicle defect has not been repaired. Many vehicle owners simply never learn that their car was subject to a recall. When individuals buy cars from secondhand dealers, car dealerships are not legally required under federal law to inform a new buyer about any recalls on the vehicle.
This means that there are potentially millions of vehicles on the road still subject to recalls, where the owners may not be aware that there’s a problem—until it’s too late. Worse, these vehicles could pose a real risk to drivers, passengers, and others on the road. Do you know if your vehicle has been recalled? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration operates a database where it lists vehicle recalls. Car owners can put their vehicle VIN number into the database to learn whether their vehicles are subject to a recall. The database also lists tire recalls and child safety seat recalls. If you have been hurt in a car accident in which you think a vehicle defect may have played a role, you might be entitled to seek damages for your medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The Robson Law Firm is an Austin, Texas car accident law firm that may be able to assist you with making a claim against a vehicle manufacturer, part manufacturer, or other responsible party, if a vehicle defect resulted in your injuries. You may only have a limited amount of time to seek compensation for your losses. Contact our car accident attorneys today to learn more about your rights and your next steps.
How Do Vehicle Defects Lead to Car Accidents and Injury?
Vehicle defects can lead to car accidents or injury if these defects are not remedied. If you or someone you love was hurt due to a vehicle defect, you may be entitled to seek damages for your losses. Here are some ways that vehicle defects can lead to car accidents and injuries:
- Airbag Defects. Airbag defects can lead to injuries and accidents in several ways. Sometimes airbags fail to deploy, which can lead to an individual suffering more serious injuries in a car accident. Sometimes airbags deploy, but they cause explosions, which can cause serious injury or death to passengers and drivers. And sometimes airbags can deploy without warning or without an accident, which can lead to injury.
- Braking Problems. When vehicles experience brake problems, they might not stop as intended, or one side of the vehicle might brake while the other side keeps moving, which can result in the vehicle unexpectedly lurching to one side—which can result in lost control of the vehicle.
- Battery Explosions. Some electrical batteries have been investigated for potential recall because of the possibility that they might explode. If your car burst into flames during a minor car accident or even during a major car accident, the Robson Law Firm can investigate your claim to determine whether a battery defect may be to blame.
- Tire Failure. Tires sometimes have defects which can cause the tire to deflate or shred apart. When this happens suddenly, drivers can possibly lose control of their vehicles, leading to accidents or injury.
- Steering or acceleration problems. Any defect that can lead to lost control of a vehicle can be incredibly dangerous.
These are just some of the defects that can result in car accidents or injuries. If a vehicle defect resulted in your injury, you may have the right to seek damages from the vehicle manufacturer, or maker of the defective product. The Robson Law Firm is a car accident lawyer in Austin, Texas who may be able to assist you if you’ve been recently hurt in an accident. Our firm can review all aspects of your crash to determine whether a defective product may have played a role in your accident.
Protect Your Rights
Vehicle manufacturers have a responsibility to warn consumers about defective vehicles or known issues in their vehicles. Sometimes consumers don’t receive proper notice about these issues, either because car companies sometimes delay addressing known risks or because consumers simply don’t receive notice of these issues. If you or someone you love was hurt because of a defective vehicle, you may have the right to seek compensation for your losses, but may only have a limited amount of time to do so. Contact the Robson Law Firm, a car accident lawyer in Austin, Texas today to learn more. Or, reach out to USAttorneys.com to get connected with a lawyer at the Robson Law Firm today.