Generally speaking, car accidents have been one of the leading causes of injuries and deaths on the road among all age groups every year. However, some of these unfortunate incidents happen due to a defect in their vehicles. Some common examples of motor vehicle product defects include defective seat belts and airbags, fuel system failures, defective brakes, accelerator pedals, door failures, roof crush, and many more.
If you believe you've been hurt in an accident involving a defective vehicle or part, you may be eligible to file a claim to recover compensation with the help of an auto product liability lawyer. They know precisely how to handle your case to achieve a more favorable outcome.
However, if you want to know the right time to seek legal help, below are the four telltale signs you need to hire an auto product liability lawyer for your situation. Read on to learn more.
You Need to Establish Your Auto Product Liability Case
Before, you can successfully hold the at-fault party/parties liable for the car accident involving a defective car or part, you must establish your auto product liability case. This means you need to show that you have reasonable grounds to file a claim for compensation for your injuries. You can do this by working with a reliable legal professional.
Typically, a reliable auto product liability lawyer is experienced in handling different liability lawsuits involving motor vehicles with dangerous designs and manufacturing defects. They can help allege that the product was improperly manufactured, or the car has been appropriately manufactured, but the design is defective, causing an injury or damage.
Furthermore, no matter what type of liability lawsuit you're filing, you need a lawyer from a reputable firm, like https://www.sadakafirm.com/, to prove the elements of your case and increase your chances of winning. These can include:
- You sustained injuries or damage in a car accident involving a defective vehicle or auto product
- The car or the part in issue had a design or manufacturing defect
- The defect was the proximate cause of the injuries or damages
Once your lawyer establishes the elements of your case, you may now file a formal claim to receive compensation for all your losses.
You Need to Determine Liability
Auto product liability cases can be complex and confusing. Unless you know how auto product liability law works, you may require the assistance of a trustworthy lawyer to navigate the case for you. This is especially true if you need to determine who's at fault for the car accident involving a defective vehicle or its parts thereof.
Unlike other personal injury cases, you may have to deal with multiple at-fault parts in an auto product liability claim. Depending on the circumstances of your case, the following can be responsible parties for what happened:
- Manufacturer
- Distributor
- Retailer
There can be several defendants when you file an auto product liability claim. Your lawyer can help prove their active participation in what happened. For example, the manufacturer can be liable for manufacturing a defective motor vehicle part or using a flawed design. The distributor can also be held accountable for their failure to warn the consumers of the product's potential dangers.
Lastly, although the retailer doesn't cause the defect, they can also be sued for a liability lawsuit if they're involved in the supply chain that provides products to the consumers.
You Need Assistance in Gathering Evidence
Your auto product liability case won’t also prosper without presenting valuable pieces of evidence to support your allegations. This is one of the reasons you need to hire a legal professional for assistance.
Since liability cases can be complex, it's best to have a lawyer by your side to help you access the necessary evidence for your claim. For instance, they may have professional connections with the physicians, police authorities, auto suppliers, manufacturers, and other vendors to help you with the collection of evidence.
Once you have the evidence in place, your lawyer can establish a solid argument to improve your odds of getting a positive result. Some pieces of proof for product liability claims can include:
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Accident reports
- Photos and videos of the accident scene and injuries, and many more.
You Want to Know Your Claim's Worth
If you've been injured in an auto accident involving product defects, you may be entitled to obtain compensation for your injuries or losses. However, knowing the actual value of your claim can be a difficult process. It's essential to consider several factors to identify the available reliefs for your injuries or damages. These factors are the extent and severity of the injuries, property damage, and many more.
With those things in mind, it's crucial to hire a lawyer to help you determine your claim's worth. They know how to calculate the compensation for your losses, which can include the following:
- Past, present, and future medical expenses
- Property damages
- Lost wages or earning capacity, in case you need time off work due to your injuries
- Disability costs, in case you become temporarily or permanently disabled due to your injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
- Punitive damages, depending on the circumstances
There are many things you can recover compensation for, but if you want to get the most out of these damages, you need to hire a lawyer who can file the auto product liability claim within the time limits required by law. Your failure to do so may result in losing your right to claim compensation.
Final Thoughts
Many people's lives have changed due to automobile accidents. However, some of these unfortunate incidents happen despite practicing some defensive driving habits. This is especially true if drivers are dealing with defective vehicles or auto parts.
Therefore, if you sustained injuries in a car accident involving a defective auto product, calling a dedicated lawyer should be one of the first steps you need to take. To help you figure out the perfect time to call for legal help, keep these tell tale signs in mind. That way, you'll hire the right lawyer for your situation.