Been In A vehicle Crash That Wasn't Your Fault? Vehicle Accident Attorneys Can Help

Although modern vehicles are safer than ever, tremendous manufacturer recalls are not at all uncommon. In April of 2013,4 major manufacturer recalled 3.4 million passenger vehicles because they had faulty airbags that caught fire once engaged. Luckily, no deaths or even injuries were attributed to these defected airbags. But, as a manufacturer has learned in recent years, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

An automotive defect resulting in death or permanent injury can give rise to class action lawsuits filed by auto accident attorneys that can cost a car maker hundreds of millions-even billions-of dollars. One of the world's largest automakers just recently announced it had resolved a slew of lawsuits alleging "unintended acceleration" for $1.1 billion!

Huge recalls not only hurt the bottom line, they also attract unwanted attention and bad publicity that can actually be more costly to an automaker in the long run. Regardless of its size, the aforementioned manufacturer has suffered public relations calamity after the disaster in past years. You can only imagine, then, how well a smaller car maker would fare in the courts. Of course, that does not mean these cases are always a slam dunk.

A road side Accident

The Costs

Automotive defect cases can be extremely complex and enormously expensive. An attorney must demonstrate that a specific manufacturing error resulted in injury and/or loss to the plaintiff. To do so, they must order a series of automotive tests in order to rule out other reasonable causes. For instance, if you were injured after skidding into a tree because your tires were bald or worn out, your injuries are not the manufacturer's fault. Only collisions that are the direct result of a specific defect that was present when the car left the factory floor can be used as proof of negligence.

Common Cases

By federal law, all cars and trucks that are sold in the U.S. must meet basic safety standards. Car-makers are also required to take necessary and reasonable precautions in the development and design of their vehicles. In most of the accidents that have been attributed to vehicle defects, the driver and passengers had no prior knowledge that anything was wrong with the automobile. It was only after they consulted a specialist, typically an automotive engineer, that they discovered a defect was to blame for their accident and injuries.

In most cases, the faulty part is actually a safety device, such as an airbag, seat belt, or bumper. Bad tires are also quite common and can result in rollovers, slippage, and hydroplaning. Because these cases are quite complex, only a small fraction of auto accident attorneys have the experience needed even to investigate them, let alone to bring them to court.

Finding A Lawyer

In addition to being a skilled litigator, a good car defect attorney may have professional contacts in the science industry, or at least know how to work with forensic experts. After all, these cases are based almost entirely on scientific evidence. The forensic scientist and the automotive engineer often work together to recreate the scene of the accident, which can help establish legal liability.

While they don't have to be Sherlock Holmes, these attorneys must at least know how to examine forensic reports and interview scientific experts. These are skills that only experienced personal injury lawyers possess since they take years to hone. As a result, you should always search for someone with vast experience in this sought-after legal speciality.