Automobile Defects

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Defective Automobile Attorneys in Los Angeles

We Advocate for the Victims of Defective Automobiles

In Los Angeles traffic, people depend on the safety and reliability of their vehicles—possibly more so than anywhere else. Your car’s performance is the result of complex interactions between many parts. It only takes one small defect to cause a devastating accident.

If you or a family member has been seriously injured because your car let you down in a crucial moment, we invite you to speak with one of our Los Angeles defective automobile attorneys. We could be able to help you recover the compensation that you are due. This may include medical expenses, future medical bills, loss of wages and earning potential, pain and suffering, and more.

Get in touch with the defective automobile attorneys at Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation at (866) 884-1717.

Dangerous Automobile Defects

A faulty part may cause a car accident, or it could result in more serious injuries for anyone in a collision. Everything from an airbag to a seat belt latch can play a crucial part in the outcome of an accident. An experienced auto defect attorney can help you demonstrate how your car’s design or malfunctioning parts caused your damages.

If you have suffered an injury due to the following, call us:

  • Defective airbags: Airbags are designed to deploy during a collision to protect occupants from impact injuries. Defective airbags may fail to deploy, deploy late, or deploy with excessive force, causing injuries instead of preventing them. Issues can arise due to faulty sensors, improper installation, or manufacturing defects.
  • Defective tires: Defective tires can lead to blowouts, loss of control, and accidents. Common defects include weak spots, tread separation, improper inflation, and manufacturing errors. Tire defects may result from substandard materials, design flaws, or inadequate quality control during production.
  • Engine defects: Engine defects encompass a wide range of issues that affect engine performance, reliability, and safety. These can include faulty fuel systems, overheating, oil leaks, and mechanical failures. Engine defects may stem from design flaws, manufacturing errors, or inadequate maintenance.
  • Seat belt failure: Seat belts are critical for restraining occupants during a collision to prevent injuries. Seat belt failure can occur due to design flaws, improper installation, or manufacturing defects such as weakened or frayed belts, faulty buckles, or defective retractors. In the event of an accident, a malfunctioning seat belt may fail to restrain occupants properly, increasing the risk of severe injuries or fatalities.
  • Defective off-road vehicles: Off-road vehicles, including ATVs, UTVs, and other recreational vehicles, may suffer from defects that compromise safety during operation. Common issues include steering and suspension failures, brake malfunctions, and rollover risks. Defective off-road vehicles may result from inadequate design, poor manufacturing processes, or insufficient testing.

We are passionate about helping injury victims get the support and compensation they need. Furthermore, we are dedicated to holding negligent or irresponsible manufacturers, companies, and designers accountable for their defective products. We do not rest until we’ve done all we can to find justice for our clients.

Who Is Responsible for Injuries Caused by Defective Car Parts?

Liability for a defective auto part can extend to various parties involved in the design, manufacturing, distribution, and sale of the product. Here are the key entities that can be held liable:

  • ManufacturerThe primary responsibility for a defective auto part often lies with the manufacturer. This includes the company that designed, produced, and marketed the faulty component. Manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are safe for consumer use. If a defect occurs during the manufacturing process or if there are design flaws, the manufacturer can be held liable for resulting damages.
  • Parts SupplierIn some cases, the manufacturer of the vehicle may not produce all the components themselves but instead source parts from other suppliers. If a defective part is supplied by a third-party parts manufacturer, that supplier may share liability for any resulting injuries or damages.
  • DistributorDistributors play a role in delivering auto parts from manufacturers to retailers or directly to consumers. If a distributor is aware of a defect in a part but fails to take appropriate action, they may be held liable for damages resulting from the defect.
  • Retailer or SellerRetailers or sellers who distribute defective auto parts can also be held liable, particularly if they were aware of the defect or should have been aware of it but failed to warn consumers or take corrective action. This includes dealerships, auto parts stores, and online sellers.
  • Repair ShopIf a defective auto part causes an accident or injury after being improperly installed or maintained by a repair shop, the shop may share liability for the damages. This could be due to negligent installation, failure to identify defects during maintenance, or using counterfeit parts.
  • Government AgenciesIn some cases, government agencies responsible for regulating auto safety standards may be held liable if they fail to properly oversee manufacturers or if they approve parts that later turn out to be defective.

Determining liability in cases involving defective auto parts can be complex and may involve investigations, expert testimony, and legal proceedings. Liability may also depend on factors such as the nature of the defect, the extent of the harm caused, and applicable laws and regulations. In many cases, multiple parties may share liability for damages resulting from a defective auto part.

How Automotive Car Recalls Affect Your Legal Rights

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigates potential automobile defects and can order manufacturers to recall defective vehicles or replace defective parts free of cost. Sometimes, automakers will issue a recall on their own if they become aware of a dangerous issue. If they decide it’s more profitable to keep flawed cars on the road, however, a government order may be necessary.

Even the NHTSA is not able to prevent every accident or injury that results from faulty automobiles. In some instances, recalls are not issued in a timely manner, or they are not issued at all. This is not due to a lack of effort—the agency starts hundreds of investigations every year. In fact, between 1966 and 2012, the NHTSA oversaw the recall of more than 500 million vehicles.

Whether an auto recall is issued by the car manufacturer itself or ordered by the NHTSA, one fact remains the same: You and your family may be in danger if your car or one of its components is included in the recall.

Common examples of car-related defects that result in recalls include:

  • Airbags that fail to deploy or deploy improperly
  • Seat belt failures
  • Tire defects
  • Faulty brakes
  • Electrical system problems
  • Fuel line issues that can cause serious fires
  • Accelerators that break or stick
  • Unsafe child restraints

Companies may issue a recall to keep customers safe, but by doing so, they are also trying to protect themselves against lawsuits. We are here to help you make sure manufacturers aren’t able to duck their accountability.

Aggressive Representation on Your Side

Big companies like car manufacturers typically have large internal legal departments, and they can afford to hire the best attorneys to defend them. You need an experienced team who’s not afraid to stand up to multinational corporations in court. Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation is used to taking on big opponents, and we won’t back down. We do everything we can to improve our clients’ chances in court—starting with building the most compelling case possible.

To have a strong product liability claim, you will need to show:

  • your vehicle or vehicle part had an unreasonably dangerous defect that caused your injury;
  • the injury was obtained when the product was being used properly; and
  • you did not substantially change the product from the condition in which it was sold.

Vehicles that enter the market with faulty parts, such as tires that explode if driven at high speeds or frames that cannot withstand the impact of a crash, make us vulnerable during some of the most dangerous times in our lives. When car manufacturers choose profit over safety, lives can be shattered. You need a zealous and passionate defective automobile lawyer to fight for the justice you deserve.

Decades of Decisive Results

With more than 35 years of combined legal experience, we have helped many accident victims receive the compensation they deserve, including many seven- and eight-figure recoveries. This includes hundreds of product liability cases we’ve fought on the behalf of those who were injured or wrongfully killed by a preventable defect or malfunction. Our attorneys take the time to learn the details of your case and current situation so we can fully represent your needs in front of a judge and jury and make it clear that when corporations cut corners, real people pay.

The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can help you hold vehicle and car part manufacturers accountable for their actions. Working together, we can ask for justice and keep other families safe from neglectful businesses.

Contact Our Firm for a Free Consultation

The team at Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation provides dedicated advocacy so you can pursue the monetary damages you need to fully recover physically and financially. Our attorneys’ knowledge and experience can benefit anyone who has been injured by a defective automobile product. The other side will do everything they can to deny you fair compensation. You deserve a team who will do everything they can to help you prevail.

Please do not hesitate to contact our firm online or call us at (866) 884-1717 for a free consultation. We look forward to providing the insight and counsel you need to navigate this complex and emotional process.

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