Being in a car accident can be devastating enough on its own. But, if a defect was the cause, it can also lead to anger and regret. Although some of its effects are beyond the help of money, compensation can definitely help. Therefore, knowing how car defect cases play out can help you decide whether you can or should go to court with your claim or not.
There are certain conditions that affect if you can make a viable claim. The first is if the car has an obvious, intolerable defect. It could have occurred by the manufacturer in any step of the process. This process includes if the company later discovers a defect but fails to warn you of it as well. Another condition is when a defect resulted in an injury despite the proper usage of the vehicle. Finally, the owner must not have changed the car from its original condition in a drastic way. If the owner modified the car, the car company could argue that its altered state is what caused the accident.
If your case appears to pass the above conditions, you may still have extra hurdles to overcome. Car companies have methods of countering defect claims. For instance, they may cite the age of the car if it is old. Or, they may mention how you treat and handle the vehicle.
Also, it is good to know that compensation in a car defects case may be much higher than other auto accident cases. This provision is to keep car companies in line by awarding punitive damages to the defendant. Sometimes, it is cheaper for auto companies to go to court instead of spending more money to fix the defects in their vehicles. Punitive damages are in place to prevent that behavior.
If you or someone you know was in a car accident suspected to be resulting from car defects, it might be helpful to contact a law firm that has board certified civil trial specialists to handle these types of cases. An attorney can go over your case and determine if your case is valid and what you may be liable to receive.