Southaven Products Liability Attorneys Protecting the Rights of Clients Injured by Defective Auto Parts
Skilled representation for injured clients throughout Southaven, Hernando, Olive Branch and throughout the state
Despite the fact that driver error plays the most significant role in motor vehicle crashes, defective vehicle parts also have a role to play in a small percentage of the accidents that cause injuries and deaths each day on our nation’s roadways. The manufacturers of auto parts owe a duty of care to the consumers whose lives and safety are literally relying on the integrity of those products to produce safe and reliable products. When a type of vehicle or a specific motor vehicle part is known to be defective, the company that manufactured the part should be held accountable for the injuries that occur in an accident caused by that defective part.
At the law firm of Taylor Jones Taylor, the skilled Southaven injury attorneys represent clients who have suffered injuries in car crashes that were caused by defective auto parts. Mississippi’s civil court system provides a legal remedy for those who are looking for compensation when their injuries were caused by the negligence of another individual. The attorneys at Taylor Jones Taylor will fight to secure a fair settlement on behalf of their clients, including those in Southaven, Hernando and Olive Branch.
Examples of defective auto parts
There are two general categories of defective vehicle parts: the first is defective design, and the second is defective manufacturing. So, automotive parts and vehicle safety components can be defective for one or both of these reasons. Some examples of defective auto parts include:
- Defective airbags that can explode causing injury and death to the drive
- Tire defects that blowout causing accidents and injuries
- Defective seat backs
- Abnormally high rollover risk
- Faulty brakes
- Malfunctioning seat belts
- Sticky gas pedal that can lead to unintended acceleration
These flaws whether they stem from a design defect or a manufacturing defect can cause an accident, and in cases where the defect did not cause the accident, can make the injuries more severe. For example, defective seat backs would not cause an accident, but when they fail to restrain the passenger this can lead to much more serious injuries that would have occurred had the seat back maintained its integrity.
Government oversight in auto defect recalls
Design flaws can come to light in a series of accidents that can all be traced back to a common design defect, such as the propensity for some SUVs to rollover, or a certain model of tire that blow out and causes accidents. Either the manufacturer can initiate the recall of a defective part on their own, or the federal government can compel the manufacturer to issue a recall. Because product recalls can cast a negative light on an automotive brand, auto makers have been known to take steps to conceal their knowledge of known defects or other problems with their products so that they can go on making profits. The General Motors ignition glitch defect is a prime example of an automaker who knew that there was a potentially deadly defect in their products, but they neglected to address the problem due to cost concerns. These kinds of actions show little regard for consumers who could potentially be injured or die because of those defective parts.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation is the federal agency that is responsible for tracking auto recalls. Their website, SaferCar.gov, tracks automotive recalls using an interactive database which consumers can access from the site. Consumers can get the latest updates about ongoing recalls and check to see if a recalled vehicle has been repaired going back 15 years.
Defective auto parts recall lawsuit
Those who have been injured in a car crash that was caused by a defective auto part may have the ability to file a civil lawsuit to recover compensation for their injuries. Loved ones may also file a wrongful death lawsuit when a relative has died due to a car crash caused by defective auto parts. The skilled Southaven auto products liability attorneys at Taylor Jones Taylor provide advocacy for the injured, and they do everything possible to secure fair compensation in the form of:
- Medical expenses now and in the future
- Modifications for home accessibility
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral expenses (for wrongful death cases)
- Severe emotional distress
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a defective automotive part, you may want to work with an experienced Taylor Jones Taylor products liability attorney in the Southaven, Hernando or Olive Branch offices because you will be going up against corporate attorneys that represent the manufacturers’ insurance companies. Products liability cases are also quite complex, and your legal team will likely enlist the services of industry experts to build your case. There will likely be multiple defendants along the chain of commerce that may be held accountable for the defect.
If you should prevail in your lawsuit you may recover monetary damages to compensate you for your property loss, your injuries, lost income, pain and suffering and other losses attributable to the accident.
Contact us to schedule a consultation to discuss your products liability case
If you or a loved one has been harmed by a defective product, you are welcome to contact Taylor Jones Taylor 662-342-1300, or fill out this contact form to schedule an appointment and learn more about the firm’s experience and services. From their offices in Southaven, Hernando and Olive Branch, the firm serves clients throughout Grenada, Batesville, Tupelo, Cleveland, and Oxford. How can we help you and your family?
