Have You Been Injured Due to a Defective Automobile?
A recent fatal car crash involving a Tesla in Florida has caught everyone’s attention. Indeed, in this crash, the battery in the Tesla Model S reignited twice after firemen extinguished the car that caught on fire immediately after the crash. A report released by the National Transportation Safety Board says the lithium ion battery ignited after the car lost control and crashed.
The agency was initially looking at the battery fire since this is only one of several electric vehicle fires where the battery reignited. Tesla hasn’t commented on the crash but says that fires can result in any car that is involved in a high-speed crash.
Product Liability and Defective Car Parts
When we leave our homes, we expect to return home safely later. We rely on manufacturers and retailers to produce and sell automobiles that can get us safely from one point to another. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. Once in a while, manufacturers produce or design products that aren’t safe, including automobiles and the parts used to build them. Some examples of motor vehicle defects that have been targeted in recent lawsuits include:
- SUV prone to rollovers
- Tires prone to blowouts
- Motorcycles that wobble at high speeds
- ATVs that are prone to rollover accidents
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a manufacturing or design defect of an automobile or part, you could be entitled to seek compensation for your damages.
Who Is Responsible in Your Case?
Identifying the responsible party in a case can be complex, but an attorney can review your case and determine which parties may be responsible. Your attorney will examine the chain of distribution that shows the path the vehicle took from the manufacturer to you. Any of the following could be defendants in a vehicle product liability lawsuit:
- Manufacturer
- Car Dealership
- Shipper or Middleman
- Used Car Dealership
Traffic Accident or Product Liability Claim?
If you’ve been involved in an accident with another vehicle and your vehicle or the other vehicle involved in the accident was found to be defective, you could have both a product liability claim as well as a negligent driving claim against the other driver.
The laws involving defective products and negligent driving are different, so you don’t have to choose. As long as there is legal basis for both claims, you can include both types of claims in your complaint.
Possible Compensation in a Defective Vehicle or Vehicle Part
If you have been injured due to a defective vehicle or vehicle part, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses. You may be eligible to claim medical expenses, lost wages and loss of future earning capacity, disability expenses if you have to hire an attorney to help you obtain permanent disability, property damages, emotional distress, physical pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life and/or companionship.
Consult with an Experienced Product Liability Attorney
It is important to understand that if you have been injured due to a defective vehicle or defective vehicle part, time is of the essence. Florida law has a two-year statute of limitations for most accidents, and failure to file in that time may result in the loss of your right to file a lawsuit. The Boca Raton attorneys at Leifer & Ramirez have years of experience handling product liability lawsuits and can review your case and advise you of your legal options. Contact us today for assistance with your case.
Resource:
wsj.com/articles/tesla-battery-ignited-twice-after-fatal-florida-wreck-u-s-investigators-say-1530054833
