Mechanical Failure
Mechanical Failure
Car accidents resulting from mechanical failures happen more often than we would like to think. Sure, you imagine your car is totally safe for roadway operation, but that isn’t always the case, and not everybody on the road maintains their cars properly either. You or another driver could have an accident-causing, dangerous mechanical failure on the road at just about any time. Accidents involving mechanical failures can be devastating for victims. It isn’t always a manufacturer problem either. What if the mechanical failure of somebody else’s vehicle causes a wreck that you’re injured in?
Discovering Defects and Mechanical Failures
Mechanical failures and auto part defects aren’t always obvious at first glance. It can take lengthy investigative operations and in depth research to determine if a mechanical failure of some sort caused your accident. Although we might think that auto manufacturers would immediately come forward in the event of a problem, they don’t always act responsibly. In the past year, we’ve learned a lot about how, why and when recalls happen. One of the most important lessons learned was that auto manufacturers are not very good at policing themselves.
Common Mechanical Failures
- Brakes
- Tires
- Windshield Wipers
- Headlights
- Taillights
- Blinkers/ Turn Signals
- Steering
Brakes
Faulty, defective or malfunctioning brakes spell disaster for drivers, passengers and other roadway users. This is one of the more dangerous types of mechanical failures. Fewer things are more important than being able to stop an object in motion, especially a large, heavy, fast, rolling object. If you think mechanical failure of brakes contributed to your accident, you need to let your attorney know as soon as possible. Even if your car isn’t under recall, you need to let your attorney know. It can take months or years for recalls to be issued, so you could be driving around with faulty brakes without even knowing it, putting yourself, your passengers, and other motorists at risk.
Ignition Switches
Another dangerous type of mechanical failure is a faulty ignition switch. The GM ignition switch scandal was all over the news for weeks, and for good reason. The deadly defect allowed cars to turn off suddenly when the automobiles were being operated. All the electrical systems would go totally dead. Drivers had no brakes, no steering, nothing. The faulty ignitions switches were responsible for deaths and countless injuries. Furthermore and most egregiously, GM knew about the mechanical failure of the ignition switches for a long time. Unable to police themselves, they allowed the general public to be put in harm’s way.
Tires
Tires are also frequently subject to recalls and mechanical failures. Auto shops selling customers old tires have also been a problem. A defective tire can lead to a dangerous or deadly blowout. Depending upon the circumstances, your car or truck could flip over during a blowout. Maybe you were injured in an accident where somebody else didn’t properly maintain their tires. Tires have to be properly inflated to function safely. Were the tires worn out? Did the other driver maintain his or her tires to manufacturer’s specifications?
Complicated Investigative Process
The investigative process for mechanical failures is often more in depth and time consuming that investigations involving traditional human error. It may be necessary to bring in experts, engineers and other mechanical professionals to determine what happened and how it could have been prevented. This isn’t something that a regular law enforcement agency is going to do either. This is one of the reasons you need a skilled personal injury lawyer with mechanical failure case experience on your side as soon as possible.
Who is At Fault?
When it comes to mechanical failures, each case is different. Depending upon what type of mechanical failure occurred, it might be possible to hold the auto manufacturer or part manufacturer liable. Perhaps, the mechanical failure happened due to a motorist neglecting to maintain his or her automobile. Whatever the case, it will come down to an in depth investigative process and a good lawyer. Don’t wait around thinking that your insurance company will figure everything out or take your word for mechanical problems. Contact an attorney as soon as possible.
When to Call a Personal Injury Lawyer in Jackson
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash due to some type of mechanical failure, you need to contact a skilled personal injury lawyer in Jackson as soon as possible. Cases involving mechanical failures are often time sensitive. The sooner your lawyer can stay on top of investigative details, the better. The experienced team at Coxwell & Associates, PLLC is standing by to answer your questions at . Call us (601) 265-7766 for a free case consultation today.
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