Although automobile safety has improved over the years, auto defects that lead to serious car accidents and injuries can still occur.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that about two percent of crashes are due to a vehicle component’s failure or degradation. Although this percentage may seem low, it accounts for tens of thousands of accidents each year.
Today, we’re sharing some of the most common mechanical failures that cause car accidents and how to protect yourself.
Common Auto Defects That Cause Accidents
- Airbag defects – Airbags that fail to deploy or deploy incorrectly can cause serious damages. Regardless of who was at fault, airbag failure can make your injuries much worse. Faulty airbags might deploy when they’re not supposed to or with too much force. This can result in motor vehicle crashes, burns, bruises, or even broken bones.
- Brake failure – Brake failure is one of the most dangerous auto defects that can occur. Several factors can interfere with the necessary friction to make brakes work, including:
- A broken oil seal
- Hard spots from overheated brakes
- Worn down brake pads or rotors
Defective brakes can leave a driver unable to control their vehicle and cause a deadly collision with another car or object.
- Damaged tires – Tires can be manufactured with flaws that might make vehicles inoperable. Common tire problems include worn-out tread, improper pressure, tread separation, and defective designs.
- Light failure – Properly working headlights and taillights are essential for driver safety. They allow drivers to see more clearly at night or during inclement weather. They also help other motorists see you. Lights that are defective or broken can be a serious hazard to yourself and other drivers.
- Defective ignitions – A defective ignition is a hazard because it can cause the vehicle to lose power without warning. Power is essential for the brakes, power steering, and airbags to function. This could easily render a car inoperable and cause a deadly accident.
Injuries Resulting from Auto Defects
Defective automobile parts can cause various injuries in two ways:
- Auto defects can lead to crashes that could cause a myriad of injuries. Some of the most common car accident injuries include whiplash, brain injuries, broken ribs, internal bleeding, and knee trauma.
- Auto defects can cause injuries to be much worse than they otherwise would have been. For example, airbags that deploy with much more force than they’re supposed to can lead to severe burns, bruises, or broken bones.
Choose Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks to Pursue Liability and Compensation
Auto defects that lead to car crashes can result in a lifetime of trauma, injury, and medical expenses. The personal injury lawyers at Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks are here to review the best course of action to ensure that you receive fair compensation. To learn more about your legal options following a motor vehicle collision, contact our team of personal injury lawyers today.
We have offices in Provo and South Jordan, Utah and are proud to serve all residents of Utah and Salt Lake Counties.