Can Vehicle Defects Contribute to Car Accident Liability?

Vehicle defects can threaten the safety of any driver or passenger on the road. From brakes and tires to seatbelts and airbags, all of the important components of a car can suffer from defects that put drivers and passengers at risk. When defects cause—or contribute to causing—accident-related injuries, the companies that are to blame can be held duly accountable. 

This makes it critical to conduct a comprehensive investigation after any car accident resulting in serious or fatal injuries. If a vehicle defect is to blame—or partially to blame—for your injuries or your loved one’s death, not only might you be able to sue the vehicle’s manufacturer, but you may need to sue the vehicle’s manufacturer in order to seek just compensation. 

Common Vehicle Defects that Can Cause Car Accidents

Several types of vehicle defects can cause serious and fatal car accidents. While vehicle manufacturers are required to ensure that their cars are safe for the road, the unfortunate reality is that many manufacturers fail to do the testing that is required. 

Why? In most cases, they are simply prioritizing their profits over their customers’ (and other motorists’) safety. Rather than focusing on safety, they prioritize getting their latest models onto dealers’ lots as quickly as possible. Far too often, this approach leads to cars being sold with defective components such as:

• Brake calipers, pads, and rotors
• Engine and transmission components
• Electrical system components 
• Sensors and other self-driving technology 
• Tires (including tires that are prone to exploding or de-beading)

If any of these components are defective, a failure can cause a sudden and unexpected loss of control. This can either cause an accident on its own, or it can contribute to causing an accident in which driver negligence or other factors were also involved. 

Common Vehicle Defects that Can Cause Accident-Related Injuries

Along with defects that can cause accidents, manufacturers also frequently sell vehicles with defects that can cause accident-related injuries. Some examples defective components that can increase the risks of being involved in a serious accident include:

• Airbags (including airbags that are prone to exploding during deployment)
• Crash sensors that trigger airbags to deploy
• Switches that disengage (or are supposed to disengage) airbags when a light passenger is detected
• Seatbelts, buckles, and other safety components 
• Glass, plastics, metals, and other materials that do not meet safety standards

If a vehicle defect is to blame for an accident victim’s injuries—or if a vehicle defect is to blame for the severity of an accident victim’s injuries—this can provide clear grounds to pursue a claim against the manufacturer. This is true even if the defect did not play a role in causing the collision. 

It is also worth noting that, in many cases, vehicle manufacturers buy components like airbags and seatbelts from other companies. If you or a loved one suffered injuries related to a defective component manufactured by a third-party supplier, both this third-party supplier and the vehicle manufacturer could be liable under Arkansas law. 

Seeking Liability for a Vehicle Defect in Arkansas 

While vehicle defects can provide clear grounds for car accident victims and their families to seek just compensation, seeking just compensation in these cases presents some unique challenges. For example, proving that a vehicle component was defective may require testing or other forms of analysis. It may be necessary to obtain the manufacturer’s internal records as well; and, when facing substantial liability, manufacturers will often fight to avoid disclosing any documents that victims or family members can use against them. 

In cases involving vehicle defects, Arkansas’s “joint and several liability” law also comes into play. Under, this law, vehicle manufacturers (and other parties) are only responsible for the percentage of a victim’s or family’s losses resulting from their percentage of liability. For example, if a negligent driver and a vehicle defect are equally to blame for a car accident victim’s losses, the victim will need to pursue claims against the negligent driver and the manufacturer in order to seek full compensation. 

This is one of several reasons why it’s important to have an experienced car accident lawyer on your side. If you have a claim for a car accident involving a vehicle defect, an experienced lawyer will be able to assist with gathering all of the evidence needed to seek the full compensation you deserve. 

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Rogers Car Accident Lawyer Today 

Do you have questions about seeking liability for a car accident involving a vehicle defect in Arkansas? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly. 

Contact the Rogers car accident lawyers at Oliver Law Firm today online or at (479) 202-5200 for a FREE case evaluation. Our attorneys proudly serve clients across Arkansas and throughout the United States from our office in Rogers, AR.