Basics of Vehicle Products Liability
If your vehicle’s brakes give out or your tires blow out or your car rolls over on the roadway, you may be able to receive compensation for your losses through a claim against your automobile manufacturer.
What is manufacturer liability?
Under products liability law in Florida (§768.81), manufacturers and those who contribute to the manufacturing process are responsible for the safety of the consumers who use their products. This means that manufacturers have to reasonably perform safety checks and anticipate issues in their products — as anything in the marketplace is expected to be defect free.
This law covers auto manufacturers, as well. These manufacturers could be found culpable for injuries or deaths caused by faulty auto parts. In some instances, manufacturers can be held “strictly liable” for injuries caused by defects, meaning negligence may not even be a factor in the case. These instances include:
- Design defects: This refers to products that have faulty design, rendering them unsafe for consumers. These defects include automobile designs that have very little protection in the case of crashes, a propensity to roll over and poor placement of the fuel tank, which could cause fires.
- Manufacturing defects: This refers to poor construction and/or assembly of the vehicle or a part of the vehicle. This often occurs as a result of an error on the assembly line or in the case of a defective material.
- Failure to warn: This refers to inadequate instructions or disclaimers, which should let the consumer know where potential safety risks or hazards may exist.
Record Year For Auto Recalls In The U.s.
It was a record year for recalls in the automobile industry in the United States, according to a report in USA Today.
In fact, General Motors recalled more automobiles in 2014 than it ever has in its entire history, the report states. Fiat Chrysler paid the largest fine in history after the company was found to have stepped around recall reporting rules.
Honda, too, had issues. Congress is currently debating the problems its airbag supplier, Takata, has had with its products. The faulty airbags set off the largest recall in U.S. history, touching several automakers in the United States and beyond.
These recalls triggered a big drop in consumer satisfaction, the report states. Car-buyer satisfaction fell from 82 to 79 on a 100-point scale — a 3.7% drop overall.
Common Defective Auto Parts
Some of the most common automobile defects include:
- Defective brakes;
- Defective tires;
- Defective seat belts;
- Defective car seats;
- Defective air bags; and
- Car rollover.
Have You Been A Victim Of Vehicle Product Liability?
If you’ve been injured as a result of a faulty product or defective automobile, you may be eligible for compensation. Filing a personal injury lawsuit can help you recover damages for things such as medical bills, lost wages as a result of missing work, pain and suffering and more.
If you believe you have been a victim of a faulty vehicle, contact the lawyers at Boone & Davis in Broward County, Florida. We have been helping victims for decade. Contact us for a consultation on your case.
