Fort Lauderdale Product Liability Attorneys Obtaining Justice for Clients Injured in Crashes Caused by Auto Defects

Trusted, dependable representation for injured Floridians

Auto makers owe a duty of care to design and produce vehicles that will be safe for the end consumers. Unfortunately, sometimes vehicle manufacturers’ loyalty to their bottom line is stronger than their loyalty to the safety of their customers. When they choose profitability over safety, there can be tragic results. While automotive defects are only responsible for a small percentage of traffic accidents and fatalities each year, it is enough that the people who get injured and lose loved ones seek compensation through product liability and wrongful death lawsuits against the manufacturers of the defective automotive components or vehicles.

The Fort Lauderdale auto defects attorneys at the Yeboah Law Group understand the significant impact a serious injury can have on your life. With mounting medical bills, being unable to work and facing an uncertain future with disability and ongoing medical expenses you might wonder where to turn. Our products liability lawyers protect your right to fair compensation when you have been injured due to a motor vehicle defect.

Examples of common automotive defects

Motor vehicles are growing increasingly complex. Negligence in the design or manufacturing of automotive components can have life-and-death consequences for the consumer if that defect causes a traffic accident. Not all automotive defects are going to have such dire potential for causing an accident. Here are a few examples of defects that can be a factor in catastrophic traffic crashes and fatalities:

• Defective airbags
• Rollover risk
• Failed seatbacks
• Defective brakes
• Defective tires
• Safety belt defects
• Roof pillar defects / roof crush and collapse
• Unintended acceleration

Auto and automotive product safety recalls

Consumer Reports estimates that there were about 62 million vehicles recalled in 2014, which was an all-time record high number. That equates to about four years’ worth of cars sold in the United States, or one out of every four cars on the road today.

Vehicle owners might be confused about what a recall means when it comes to a manufacturer’s responsibility for accidents and injuries that occur because of the defect that is the reason for the recall.

• Q: Does a recall let the manufacturer of a defective product off the hook for liability?
• A: No. The fact that a product is being recalled has no bearing on the manufacturer’s liability.
• Q: If a product is recalled, does that mean the manufacturer is automatically liable for the defective product?
• A: No. A product recall does not mean that the manufacturer is now automatically liable for every accident and injury. To prevail in a products liability case, the plaintiff must prove that the defect was the direct cause of their injury. The manufacturer might even be successful in excluding the recall as it might be prejudicial to the jury.

The (NHTSA) is the federal agency with oversight over recalls for automotive defects. Manufacturers can initiate a recall, or the NHTSA can require the manufacturer to conduct a recall if the motor vehicle or part is defective or is not in compliance with auto safety standards.

Which automotive brands have had safety recalls?

The following car makers have had safety recalls at some point:

• Ford
• Chevrolet
• BMW
• Toyota
• Dodge
• Honda
• GMC
• Nissan
• Volkswagen
• Mini Cooper

You can learn more about automotive recalls at a NHTSA website that contains a massive database of recalls: SaferCar.gov.

Injuries from car crashes caused by auto defects

Auto defects can lead to serious car accidents. An example would be a defective tire blowout when the vehicle is travelling at 75 mph on the highway, or a brake failure that caused the collision of a vehicle on a downhill, or a seatback failure that caused an adult male to crush and seriously injure the child passenger in the back seat behind him. Some of the catastrophic injuries stemming from crashes caused by auto defect include:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injury
• Neck and back injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Burns
• Lacerations
• Accidental limb loss

How a skilled Fort Lauderdale products liability lawyer can help

An experienced Fort Lauderdale products liability lawyer from Yeboah Law Group will represent you against the corporate lawyers hired to defend the auto manufacturer. If you believe and have evidence to support the idea that your injury was the result of an auto defect, you would benefit from scheduling a consultation with a product liability attorney right away. We will not charge you for the initial consultation. If we agree to take your case, you will not have to pay attorney fees unless we are successful in recovering compensation for you.

Florida has a statute of limitations of four years after the cause of action has accrued for a products liability lawsuit involving the design, manufacture, distribution or sale of personal property that is not a permanent fixture or improvement to real estate. Generally, the cause of action accrues when the last element of the cause of action occurs. Nevertheless, the statute starts to run from when the facts that give rise to the cause of action are discovered or should have been discovered through the exercise of due diligence. But, you want to act right away to preserve evidence and allow your attorney to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident.

Schedule a free consultation with a skilled Fort Lauderdale product liability attorney today

At Yeboah Law Group, we hold those responsible for our clients’ injuries accountable for their losses. When you have been hurt in an accident caused by an automotive defect, our Fort Lauderdale product liability attorneys fight for your right to fair compensation.  Please call to schedule a free consultation at 954-764-2338 or fill out our contact form. We serve clients in Fort Lauderdale and throughout South Florida.

 

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