Manufacturing Defects

Sacramento Accident Attorneys Explain Car Manufacturing Defects

Car manufacturing companies have a duty to adequately test the safety of a vehicle before putting it on the market. Manufacturers are required to consider all “foreseeable” uses of the vehicle. For example, no driver should be driving 100 miles per hour, but as that is possible and foreseeable (as drivers are known to be reckless), the manufacturer has a duty to build a car that will not explode at 100 miles per hour. There can be many different manufacturing defects in vehicles and it’s best to speak with Sacramento accident attorneys if you have been involved in a car accident due to a manufacturing defect.

As the vehicle manufacturing industry has changed, the number of recalls has increased steadily since the 1990’s. Cars are being made more and more cheaply, leading to faultier parts and an increased risk of malfunction. In fact, in 2015, more than 50 million cars were issued for recall – a record high. This puts the public at risk not only for direct consumers, but certainly for bystanders as well, since they have no control over the quality of car another individual on the road may purchase. If damages are incurred by a car’s malfunction, product liability law may help you receive the compensation you deserve.

Though car manufacturers themselves have garnered much attention in recent years for their recalls, other aspects of a car may be subject to manufacturing defect, such as tires.

Common Defects

There are several defects that commonly cause accidents or result in more damage than what would otherwise be incurred during a car collision. The following list gives some common examples of vehicular defects.

• Air bags
  • Not deploying during a collision
  • Deploying at times other than a collision – causing injury or a collision
  • Deploying with too much force or not enough
• Brakes
  • Brake pads
  • Braking fluid
  • Alignment of braking system
• Ignition switches
  • The subject of a major lawsuit against GM – ignition switches are involved in the turning on of your engine. Issues with an ignition switch may cause a vehicle to stall unexpectedly
• Steering mechanics
  • Steering mechanics are complicated and include both mechanical, fluid, and electrical components. Should any aspect of the steering system go awry, this could result in sudden and unexpected loss of maneuverability.
• Seatbelts
  • During collision, faulty buckles or emergency locking retractors may lead to more injury for persons inside the car, such as ejection from the vehicle.
• Roof
  • Should the vehicle happen to rollover, a collapsed roof could increase injuries or fatalities.

Manufacturing Vs Design Defects

It is important to know the difference between manufacturing and design defects and to accurately determine which relates to a specific case. A manufacturing defect is when a vehicle or part of a vehicle is not created as intended. This means that there was something wrong with the way in which the part was produced. Design defect refers to a problem in the original design and intent of the vehicle or parts of the vehicle.

A recent and well-publicized example of a design defect may be found in the tragic death of actor Anton Yelchin at the age of 27. He had placed his Jeep in park before walking down the sloped driveway to retrieve his mail. Due to the poor design of the gear shift, in which the gear stick returns to the center position after gear selection, with no clear indication of which gear the car is currently in. Whatever your situation may be, speaking with a car accident attorney in Sacramento is the best option in order to get the compensation you deserve.

Recalled Vehicles

If an individual is driving a vehicle that was already recalled, the fault may lie on that person as well as the manufacturer. As many as 45 million vehicles that were issued for recall between 2014 and 2015 have not been brought in for repairs.

Other External Causes For Accidents

Some vehicular collisions are caused not by driver negligence or defects in the design or manufacturing of a car, but by poor road maintenance or design. In these cases, the government could be held responsible. Cases involving the government are usually trickier; contact our Sacramento accident attorneys for details regarding your specific case.

Examples of poor road design include:

• Inadequate warning for lane merging
• Poor visibility for lane merging or turning
• Poor design or inadequate warnings at intersections
  • For example, what traffic does or does not stop? Is cross traffic two-way?
• Inadequate warning for changes in one or two-way traffic

Examples of poor road maintenance include:

• Potholes
• Debris on the road
• Uneven lanes
• Insufficient shoulder space
• Broken traffic signals

Our Accident Attorneys Are By Your Side To Help You

Have you been in a car collision and believe a manufacturing defect in your or another’s car was the cause? It is important you speak with one of our Sacramento accident attorneys at The Weinberger Law Firm who have the experience and knowledge to work hard on your case to get you the compensation you deserve. Call 916-304-0952.