Used Cars May have Dangerous Manufacturing Defects Unknown to Their Owners
The Law Offices of Steven L. Martin has significant experience helping auto accident victims receive compensation for injuries. Not only do we handle personal injury claims against negligent drivers and their insurance companies, we also work to hold manufacturers responsible for any role a defective product may have played in causing an accident or contributing to the severity of injuries. In some cases, the drivers of used vehicle discover too late that their cars or trucks contain dangerous manufacturing defects, some of which were subject to recall.
Dangerous Flaws Affecting the Safety of Used Vehicles
A recent CarFax study reported by CBS News found that at least 2.7 million vehicles for sale in 2011 were subject to unresolved vehicle recalls. These cars had a problem serious enough to prompt a recall, but were never repaired and thereby never made safe for subsequent owners.
While “as-is” sellers are not required to notify buyers that a vehicle is subject to a recall, manufacturers may still be held liable for injuries caused by a dangerous flaw in the production or design of a vehicle or vehicle component. Manufacturing defect cases may involve:
- SUV rollovers
- Engine fires caused by leaking fluids
- Faulty fuel systems
- Airbag malfunctions, including failure to deploy upon impact
- Poor crashworthiness
- Defective brakes
- Defective or poorly made tires
- Defective seatbelts
- Defective child car seats
In order to determine if a vehicle performed as it should have in a collision, a thorough and decisive investigation must be conducted, analyzing the vehicle’s history and reputation for safety, and identifying any as yet unreported defects in design and/or production. Over the years products liability litigation has brought numerous vehicle defects into the public eye, ultimately causing cars and trucks to be made safer than in the past.
At The Law Offices Steven L. Martin, we take auto accident cases seriously, knowing that the way we handle a case could prevent injuries and deaths in the future. Our comprehensive approach also helps our clients receive maximum available compensation for their injuries.
Contact an Experienced Motor Vehicle Accidents Lawyer in Los Angeles
If you believe that a defectively designed or manufactured vehicle (or vehicle component) caused or worsened an injury you or a loved one sustained in an auto accident, please contact The Law Offices of Steven L. Martin. We can help you recover compensation from insurance companies and all at-fault parties after going through the stress and trauma of a car accident in Los Angeles.