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    Checking the brake discs of a modern car. Vehicle braking system.

    Millions of cars are recalled each year due to mechanical defects and safety issues. While some vehicles are recalled for relatively minor car defects, other defective vehicles can pose a serious safety risk which can lead to a car defect lawsuit. Many recalled vehicles are never properly repaired yet remain on the road, and even more shockingly, some vehicles are never subject to a recall, even when the manufacturer is aware of the harm they could cause.  If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a defective automobile, then you may be entitled to hold the auto manufacturer or parts manufacturer accountable for the harm you have suffered.

    Automotive defect cases require thorough investigation and careful preparation to show how a defect caused or worsened an accident. Auto manufacturers are some of the most powerful companies in the world, with huge legal teams. Preparing a successful defective car accident case will require a law firm with extensive resources to hire automotive specialists to uncover the defect and pursue justice. You’ll need a law firm familiar with their tactics and one that can withstand the pressures of facing a multinational mega-corporation.

    At Joye Law Firm, our lawyers know how to hold even the largest automakers responsible for accidents caused by their defective vehicles. We have the first-hand experience you need to successfully resolve your car defect case. In fact, Attorney Mark Joye secured a $262 million verdict for the surviving family members of a child killed in an accident involving a defective door latch.  The tragic case, which could have been prevented if the automaker would have taken latch security more seriously, remains the largest personal injury verdict in South Carolina history. The case put us front and center in the national news media and launched our firm’s reputation as a formidable product liability law firm, capable of taking on the biggest opponents.

    We’re proud to have a team of attorneys with the skills and experience to handle complex car defect cases. If you believe your car accident was caused or worsened by an automotive defect, contact us today at 888-324-3100 for a free initial case with a Charleston defective car lawyer. Find out how we can help you pursue the money you need for an injury that wasn’t your fault.

     

    What Are Car Defects?

    A car defect is any fault or flaw in a vehicle. Some defects, such as a faulty car radio, are relatively minor problems that won’t increase the chance of an accident. However, because modern cars are full of intricate, interdependent systems, some vehicle defects are serious safety risks with potentially devastating consequences.

    While a car’s mechanical system can develop defects after extended periods of poor maintenance or neglect, most car defects result from flaws that come from the design or manufacturing process. If an auto manufacturer designs a vehicle model that is unsafe, any consumer who drives that unsafe model is at greater risk of dangerous accidents and injuries due to the vehicle’s inherent defects.

    Can Car Defects Cause Car Accidents?

    When you drive a defective car, the failure of a faulty component or system could contribute to the following types of accidents:

    • Head-on collisions– A head-on collision could occur if a steering defect causes a driver to lose control of the car and veer into oncoming traffic.
    • Rear-end collisions– Defective brakes could prevent a driver from stopping in time to avoid hitting another car.
    • Side-impact collisions– A side-impact crash could happen if defective brakes prevent a driver from stopping at an intersection.
    • Parking lot accidents– A parking lot accident could occur if a defective car has a sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) incident within proximity to parked vehicles.
    • Fire and explosion injuries– A vehicle’s fuel or coolant system defect could contribute to dangerous fires or explosions, resulting in severe burn injuries.
    • Airbag injuries– Defective airbags can cause serious injuries if they explode when they deploy or fail to deploy correctly upon impact.

    Most Common Auto Defect Cases

    At Joye Law Firm, our knowledgeable injury lawyers handle auto defect cases involving the following types of auto design and manufacturing defects:

    • Tire defects– Many defective tires remain in use because automobile owners are unaware the tires have been recalled. Faulty tires are liable to cause blowouts, leading to accidents.
    • Brake defects– Defective brakes can easily lead to loss of driver control and devastating car accidents.
    • Steering defects– Power steering systems can fail if steering belts are made from defective materials that wear quickly.
    • Fuel system defects– A faulty fuel system component can cause serious issues, including possible fires or explosions.
    • Airbag defects– Airbags are life-saving innovations that prevent crash victims from absorbing the full impact of collisions. But an airbag can cause serious injuries if it deploys improperly or fails to deploy in a crash.
    • Seat belt defects– If a defective seat belt has unreliable latching or retracting features, the belt can fail upon impact in an accident.
    • Structural defects– Structural defects affecting a car’s frame, roof, doors, or seats can present numerous safety issues that leave occupants vulnerable in an accident. Some defective vehicle frames experience excessive corrosion that can weaken the frame.
    • Electrical defects– Defects in a car’s electrical system might cause headlights or brake lights to stop working at inopportune moments, leading to a collision.

     

    Accident Injuries Commonly Caused by a Car Defect

    There are three key ways a car defect can injure someone:

    • Causing an issue that contributes to a crash while in transit
    • Preventing a critical safety feature from functioning correctly to prevent an accident or reduce the harmful effects upon impact
    • Introducing an issue that injures, such as by causing a fire or explosion

    When a car product defect fails in one of these ways, vehicle occupants and other crash victims can sustain severe injuries, such as:

    • Head and neck injuries
    • Facial and dental injuries
    • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
    • Back and shoulder injuries
    • Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
    • Partial or total paralysis
    • Seatbelt and airbag injuries
    • Abdominal and internal injuries
    • Dislocated or broken bones
    • Loss of a limb
    • Soft tissue strains, sprains, and tears
    • Road rash
    • Burn injuries
    • Emotional and psychological injuries

     

    Vehicle Defect Laws: Are Auto Manufacturers Liable for Car Accidents?

    When vehicles have defects that impair their safe operation, such as brake or airbag defects, the manufacturers may issue recalls to replace the defective part. In many instances, automotive defects come to light as a result of a pattern of reported car accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulates vehicle safety and has a database of current and previous vehicle safety recalls.

    In addition to the NHTSA’s federal regulations, South Carolina has state laws that apply to vehicle defect cases. For instance, South Carolina’s “lemon law” protects consumers who buy or lease new vehicles only to discover defects. If a new car buyer or lessee notifies a manufacturer of a defect, and the manufacturer cannot repair the defect within a reasonable time frame, South Carolina law entitles the consumer to demand a full refund of the purchase price of the vehicle, less a reasonable allowance for the consumer’s use.

    In cases of car accidents caused by defective components, the injured person may have grounds for lawsuits against manufacturers of defective vehicles under South Carolina’s product liability laws. Product liability law holds manufacturers financially liable for injuries or losses stemming from product defects or failure to warn adequately of known defects. These are complicated cases to pursue and require the help of an experienced attorney with the resources to investigate how the defective component caused the accident and injuries. If you have grounds for a product liability lawsuit in South Carolina, you must file within three years of the date when you suffered the injury.

    Can I Sue for a Motor Vehicle Defect?

    You might have grounds for a defective car lawsuit if you sustained injuries or financial losses due to any of the following:

    • A design defect– Design defects are fundamental problems with the design of a product. Design defects make products unsafe no matter how well they are manufactured or how carefully consumers use them. An example of a design defect is a design that makes a vehicle unreasonably susceptible to overturning and rollover accidents.
    • A manufacturing defect– Manufacturing defects are introduced during the manufacturing or assembly process. For instance, a manufacturing defect might occur if a manufacturer uses the wrong material to make an item or assembles an apparatus incorrectly. A manufacturing defect may affect vehicles or vehicle components from a certain manufacturing lot.
    • A defective warning– Defective warnings occur when manufacturers or sellers fail to include proper safety warnings about a product, leaving consumers vulnerable to injury from unintentional misuse.

    Get in Touch with a South Carolina Defective Car Lawyer

    For over 50 years, our lawyers have helped thousands of South Carolinians reclaim their lives after preventable injuries.  We’re proud to have a strong track record of holding automotive manufacturers accountable for automotive defects that cause harm and are ready to put that experience to work for you and your family. Call 888-324-3100 to reach Joye Law Firm today to discuss the details of a defective car injury case during a free initial consultation session.