A car accident can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, but it becomes even more complicated when a defective vehicle part is to blame. Faulty brakes, steering malfunctions, and airbag failures are common causes of these dangerous crashes in Oklahoma.
If you think a defective part caused your accident, it is a good idea to seek legal counsel. An Oklahoma City car accident lawyer will help you review the cause of the accident, determine liability, and recover for medical bills, lost wages, and other losses. Doing the right thing immediately after the accident will make your case solid and enable you to hold the culprits accountable.
1. Get Medical Help Immediately
Your health and safety should be the most important thing after any accident. Even if you do not feel pain right away, injuries such as concussions, internal injuries, or whiplash do not show immediate symptoms.
Having urgent medical attention will ensure that your injuries are properly diagnosed and recorded, and this will be necessary if you are to make a claim later. Also, having precise medical records establishes the link between the accident and your injuries so that insurance companies cannot trivialize your condition.
2. Preserve Evidence from the Accident
Concrete evidence is needed to prove that a defective auto part caused the accident. Without evidence, manufacturers or insurers will attribute driver error, road flaws, or otherwise caused the crash. Here’s what you need to do:
- Take pictures and videos of the crashed vehicle, focusing especially on the likely faulty part (e.g., tires, brakes, airbags).
- Document the site of the accident, including skid marks, weather conditions, traffic lights, and road obstructions.
- Keep every record of repair and maintenance of the vehicles, since these can show a trend of issues with the defective part.
3. Determine Who May Be Liable
When a defective car part is involved, multiple parties may be responsible, including:
- Vehicle Manufacturer: If the defect was present when the car was originally produced and sold.
- Parts Manufacturer: If the specific part, for example, defective brakes, tires, or airbag, had failed due to a design or manufacturing defect.
- Mechanic or Repair Shop: If faulty repair jobs or improper installations led to the breakdown.
- Car Dealership or Seller: If they intentionally sold a car that had a lethal defect without disclosing it.
4. Report the Defect to Authorities
If the faulty part was to blame for your accident, inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA monitors complaints of defective auto parts and informs manufacturers to recall a part if it identifies a trend of complaints. Filing a complaint is beneficial in two ways:
- It makes your argument stronger by presenting official proof of the defect.
- It helps to prevent future accidents by bringing potential safety hazards to regulators’ attention.
Also, if the defective part that caused your accident is later recalled, it will add more weight to your claim for compensation.
5. Consult a Product Liability or Car Accident Attorney
Defective car part cases are usually legally complex and difficult to prove. Car companies and insurers usually deny liability, which might be difficult for the victims to get compensation without the assistance of an attorney. An experienced car accident attorney who has handled product liability cases can:
- Research the accident and collect technical proof to prove the defect.
- Work with car experts to examine the faulty component and recreate the crash.
- Negotiate on your behalf with suppliers, manufacturers, and insurers.
