Auto accidents occur every day, due to a variety of causes. Some occur because of driver error; others occur because of vehicle problems associated with defective products. When a faulty or defective auto product leads to an accident, identifying the root of the vehicle problem isn’t always easy. You cannot just say the accident was the vehicle’s “fault.”
There are several different auto parts that can be defective. The most common ones include:
- Faulty brakes
- Defective airbags
- Faulty airbag inflators
- Defective gas pedals
- Faulty vehicle frames
- Defective window buttons
- Faulty tires
- Defective seatbelts, which could fail to protect the wearers, trap them, or injure them
- Faulty fuel tanks, which may lead to gas leaks and explosions
- Faulty door handles, which could leave the occupant or occupants trapped in the event of an auto accident or another emergency
Liability in defective auto cases
There are two main types of product defects regarding vehicles: manufacturing defects and design defects. Manufacturing defects result from mistakes made during production. They only impact a small number of vehicles manufactured every year, as manufacturing defects generally are not uniform and widespread throughout a line of vehicles. Conversely, design defects are widespread throughout a line of vehicles, as the design itself is flawed. As a result, every vehicle made from said flawed design is defective. Design flaws are why Takata’s airbags explode, why GM’s ignition switches randomly shut off, and why the actor Anton Yelchin was killed when his Jeep rolled over him, because of a defective gear switch.
These types of product liability cases require skill and resources. At Banks & Jones, we work with accident reconstructionists, medical experts and anyone else who can help us document the evidence of your injuries and build a successful claim. We prepare all of our cases to go to trial just in case, but we are fierce negotiators, too. Our Knoxville auto accident lawyers don’t back down from a fight when it comes to protecting you, your family and your future.
If you were in an auto accident and you were injured as a result, you can seek justice and compensation through the civil court system. For more information, contact the Knoxville auto accident attorneys at Banks & Jones, or call us at 865-546-2141. We fight for the injured throughout Tennessee
T. Scott knows the importance of interacting with colleagues to stay abreast of developments and changes in the legal world. T. Scott frequently teaches CLE courses on trial strategy, teaching other lawyers his methods for success in the courtroom, and is certified as a Rule 31 Mediator in the Tennessee Supreme Court. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the National Trial Lawyers, and both the Tennessee and American Associations for Justice.
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