How Can You Prove an Auto Part Was Defective?
When a defect is the root cause of a vehicle accident, proving it requires the right combination of documentation, analysis, and legal action. A defective product claim can hold manufacturers accountable while helping injury victims recover the compensation they’re entitled to under the law.
At Tormey & McConnell, our firm has worked with many individuals whose injuries were caused by defective auto parts. Establishing that a specific component failed and directly caused a crash can be a detailed process, but doing so is essential in a personal injury claim.
What Qualifies as a Defective Auto Part
Auto parts can be deemed defective in several ways. A legal claim does not simply involve a broken part—it must involve a part that failed due to design, manufacturing, or warning issues, leading to an injury or increased risk.
Three Types of Auto Part Defects
Design defects: These occur when a part is inherently unsafe due to how it was conceived. For example, a fuel tank placed in an area prone to explosion during rear-end collisions.
Manufacturing defects: Even a well-designed part can be dangerous if built incorrectly. This might include a brake pad that was assembled with low-quality materials.
Failure to warn or instruct: If a part has inherent risks and the manufacturer fails to provide adequate warnings or instructions, this may also constitute a defect.
These defects become especially important in personal injury claims, as they often shift liability away from the driver and toward the product manufacturer, distributor, or other corporate entities.
Common Auto Parts Involved in Defect Claims
Some vehicle components are more frequently cited in product liability claims because of the danger they pose when they malfunction.
Airbags: These may deploy unexpectedly or fail to deploy during a crash.
Brakes: Defective braking systems can cause delayed stops or total failure.
Steering systems: Sudden loss of steering control is among the most dangerous mechanical failures.
Seat belts: Improperly latching or unlatching belts can cause preventable injuries.
Tires: Tread separation, sidewall blowouts, and other manufacturing defects can result in rollovers or crashes.
When these parts fail and cause harm, proving their defect is essential to supporting a personal injury claim.
Establishing Causation Between a Defect and the Injury
In any personal injury case involving a defective auto part, one of the most important components of the legal argument is proving causation. It is not enough to show that a part was defective—you must also demonstrate that the defect directly caused or significantly contributed to the injury.
Evidence That Supports Causation
Accident reconstruction reports: Engineers and other professionals can analyze the crash and determine how the part’s failure led to your car accident.
Vehicle inspection records: A mechanic’s findings after the crash can provide detailed information on the state of the part.
Event data recorders (EDRs): These devices, also known as “black boxes,” often contain useful pre-crash information such as speed, brake usage, and steering input.
Medical records: These can help link the type of injuries sustained to the specific malfunction of the vehicle.
The connection between the part and the injury must be clearly established to succeed in a personal injury lawsuit based on product liability.
How Evidence Is Collected in Auto Defect Cases
The investigation process in a personal injury claim involving a defective auto part involves multiple stages of evidence collection. Legal professionals often work alongside engineers, forensic experts, and other specialists.
Preservation of the Vehicle
One of the most critical actions after a crash is preserving the vehicle in its post-accident condition. This allows professionals to:
Examine the damaged parts: Engineers can test for structural flaws, corrosion, improper materials, or missed assembly steps.
Retain the black box data: EDRs should be preserved without alteration.
Secure photographic documentation: Images of the vehicle interior, deployed airbags, and seatbelt engagement are useful in evaluating whether systems functioned properly.
Preserving the vehicle in its original post-crash state is essential for uncovering potential defects and building a strong foundation for any legal or technical investigation.
Documentation from Manufacturers and Recall Histories
Records from the part manufacturer or vehicle maker can also play a role in building a case.
Recall notices: If a part has been subject to a recall, this may indicate that the manufacturer was aware of its danger.
Internal testing reports: These can show whether the company conducted adequate safety checks.
Design schematics and manufacturing process records: These may reveal flaws in the product’s original engineering or production process.
This evidence can help illustrate whether the defect was avoidable or due to negligence in the product’s design or construction.
The Basics of Product Liability Law in Personal Injury Cases
When an auto part defect causes an injury, personal injury law intersects with product liability principles. The legal basis for filing such claims typically falls under strict liability, negligence, or breach of warranty.
Strict Liability in Defective Part Claims
Under strict liability, a manufacturer or seller can be held liable for injuries caused by a defective product regardless of whether they acted negligently.
No need to prove intent or carelessness: It is enough to show that the part was defective and the defect caused the injury.
Manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers may be liable: Responsibility can extend beyond just the original manufacturer.
Strict liability shifts the focus from proving fault to proving defect and harm, making it a powerful legal tool for injured consumers seeking accountability.
Negligence-Based Claims
Negligence claims require proving that the defendant failed to act with reasonable care in designing, manufacturing, or distributing the auto part.
Lack of quality control: If a manufacturer failed to test parts properly before distribution, they could be liable.
Insufficient warnings: If foreseeable risks were not clearly disclosed, the injured party might have grounds for a negligence claim.
In negligence claims, showing that the defendant's failure to exercise reasonable care led to preventable harm is key to holding them legally responsible.
Breach of Warranty
These claims involve a failure to uphold express or implied promises made about the part’s safety or functionality.
Express warranties: If the product came with specific guarantees that it did not meet, this may be actionable.
Implied warranties: These include the general expectation that a product is safe and suitable for its intended use.
Each of these legal theories may provide a pathway for recovering compensation in a personal injury case involving auto part defects.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Defective Auto Part?
Defective part cases are not limited to just the automaker. Liability may be shared by multiple parties involved in the product’s design, manufacture, distribution, or sale.
Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs): These are typically the first to be scrutinized in a product defect claim.
Part suppliers: If a third-party supplier created the defective component, they could be named in the lawsuit.
Vehicle dealers: In some cases, the dealership that sold the vehicle might be liable for failing to address known issues.
Repair shops: If improper repairs contributed to the malfunction, liability may extend to mechanics or service providers.
Identifying all responsible entities is essential in a personal injury claim so that no potentially liable party is overlooked.
Types of Damages Recoverable in Auto Defect Injury Claims
Victims injured by defective auto parts can seek several types of damages, depending on the circumstances of the accident and the severity of the injury.
Medical expenses: These may include emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, and ongoing treatment.
Lost wages: If injuries prevent the victim from working, compensation for past and future lost income may be awarded.
Pain and suffering: Physical discomfort and emotional distress related to the accident may be recoverable.
Permanent disability or disfigurement: Long-term consequences of the injury can significantly impact the value of the claim.
Property damage: In cases where the defective part destroyed the vehicle or other property.
Documenting these losses thoroughly is critical to maximizing recovery in a personal injury lawsuit.
Challenges That May Arise in Defective Auto Part Claims
Although strong cases can be built around auto part defects, certain challenges may arise that make the process more difficult.
Lack of physical evidence: If the vehicle is not preserved, important proof may be lost.
Delay in filing: Statutes of limitations apply, and waiting too long can bar recovery.
Manufacturer defenses: Companies often argue that improper use or maintenance—not a defect—caused the accident.
Shared fault claims: The defense may attempt to blame the injured driver to reduce liability.
These challenges make legal representation essential in handling a personal injury case related to defective parts.
Steps to Take After a Crash
If you believe a faulty component contributed to a vehicle accident, taking immediate and informed action can protect your legal interests.
Here are some key actions to take:
Seek medical attention: Document injuries thoroughly from the start.
Preserve the vehicle: Don’t repair or dispose of the car until it has been examined by a professional.
Collect witness statements: These may help support claims about how the vehicle performed before the crash.
Request police and accident reports: These documents often contain important details.
Contact a personal injury lawyer: Legal guidance early in the process can help protect evidence and build your case.
Following these steps can make a significant difference in the success of a personal injury claim.
Contact a Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a potentially defective auto part, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim.
Our lawyers at Tormey & McConnell can help investigate your case, collect necessary evidence, and determine who may be held liable. Our firm serves clients across Amarillo, Texas; Canyon, Texas; Dumas, Texas; Pampa, Texas; Hereford, Texas; Childress, Texas; and Borger, Texas. Call us today.