by tfarino

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Determining Liability After a Defective Vehicle Accident

If you are involved in a car accident that was caused, in part, because of a defective vehicle component, there are many parties that could be liable for your injuries or other damages. In some cases, they could be held to a strict liability standard. This standard says that a manufacturer or part maker wouldn’t need to know about the defect to have a judgment rendered against them.

The Company That Made the Part Could Be Liable

Assuming that a part is installed and used correctly, an auto part maker can be held responsible for any injuries or deaths caused by a car accident. For example, if the car didn’t stop because the brakes failed, whoever made those brakes would likely be named as a defendant in a personal injury case. However, if the part was not properly installed or altered in any way, that could absolve the manufacturer from paying financial damages.

The Company That Made the Car Can Be a Defendant

An automaker is required to create a product that is safe for a consumer to drive. If a company uses faulty parts or installs parts in a manner that renders them unsafe, it could find itself named in a personal injury case. If an automaker is found to have sold a defective product, it may be required to pay actual as well as punitive damages.

The Seller May Bear Responsibility

As a general rule, an auto dealer should inspect their vehicles before selling them whether they are new, used, or obtained from a fleet. In most states, consumers are protected by lemon laws as well as other statutes related to fraud or defective product liability. Consulting with personal injury attorneys may help you learn more about whether a car dealer or any other party could be named as part of a lawsuit.