Can a Car Manufacturer Be Held Liable If a Defect Caused the Crash?

When a car accident happens, we instinctively look for a negligent driver to hold responsible. But what if the cause of the crash wasn’t a human error, but a mechanical one? What if the brakes failed, the steering locked up, or an airbag deployed incorrectly, causing the driver to lose control? In these terrifying situations, the chain of liability can extend far beyond the drivers involved, all the way back to the company that designed and built the vehicle.

The answer is a definitive yes. Car manufacturers can absolutely be held legally liable for accidents and injuries caused by a defect in their product.

These cases fall under a complex area of law known as product liability. Washington State has strong laws designed to protect consumers from dangerous and defective products. When a car or one of its essential parts is defective, the manufacturer has breached its duty to provide a safe product, and they can be held financially responsible for the harm that results.

Useful Information for You: In a Nutshell

• Yes, Manufacturers Can Be Liable: Under product liability law, a car manufacturer is responsible for injuries caused by a defect in their vehicle.
• Three Types of Defects: A claim can be based on a (1) Design Defect (the car was inherently unsafe), (2) Manufacturing Defect (a mistake was made while building a specific car), or (3) a Warning Defect (the company failed to warn of a known danger).
• Proving the Defect is Key: The biggest challenge in these cases is proving that the vehicle or part was defective and that the defect was the direct cause of the accident.
• These are Highly Complex Cases: Product liability lawsuits against major auto manufacturers require significant resources, expert testimony, and specialized legal knowledge.
• You Don’t Have to Prove “Negligence”: In many product liability cases, you only need to prove the product was defective and dangerous, not that the company was specifically careless in making it. This is called “strict liability.”

Understanding the Three Types of Vehicle Defects

A successful product liability claim requires identifying and proving one of three specific types of defects.

1. Design Defect

This is a flaw in the vehicle’s fundamental design, meaning that every single car of that model is potentially unsafe, even if it was built perfectly according to specifications.

• Examples: An SUV designed with a high center of gravity that makes it prone to rolling over; a fuel tank placed in a location where it is likely to explode in a rear-end collision.

2. Manufacturing Defect

This is a flaw that occurs during the production or assembly process. The overall design of the car is safe, but a specific car or batch of cars came off the assembly line with a mistake that makes it dangerous.

• Examples: Using a batch of weak metal in the steering column that can break under pressure; improperly installed brake lines that can leak fluid; a single airbag that was incorrectly wired.

3. Warning Defect (or “Failure to Warn”)

This defect occurs when a manufacturer knows about a danger associated with their vehicle but fails to provide adequate warnings or instructions to the consumer.

• Examples: Failing to warn that a certain model’s airbags could deploy with excessive force; not providing clear instructions on the risks associated with a new automated driving feature.

The Challenge: Proving Your Case

Suing a massive auto manufacturer is a David-and-Goliath battle. These corporations have teams of high-powered lawyers and engineers dedicated to defending their products. To win, you need to build an airtight case. This typically involves:

• Preserving the Vehicle: The wrecked car is the most important piece of evidence. It must be preserved in its post-accident state for inspection by experts.
• Expert Analysis: Engineers and mechanics must be hired to inspect the vehicle, identify the defect, and provide expert testimony that the defect caused the crash.
• Documentation: Gathering all maintenance records for the vehicle, as well as any recall notices or technical service bulletins issued by the manufacturer for that model.

Because these cases are so complex and expensive to pursue, it is nearly impossible for an individual to handle one on their own.

If you suspect that a vehicle defect caused your car accident in the Tacoma area, it is crucial to act quickly to preserve the evidence and get expert legal advice. Search the Car Accident Lawyer Directory Tacoma to find and compare specialized local attorneys who have the resources and experience to take on these challenging product liability cases.

References

• Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Title 7, Chapter 7.72 – Washington product liability act:This is the official state law that governs all product liability claims in Washington, from defective household goods to automobiles.

  https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=7.72

• Washington Pattern Jury Instructions (WPI) – Chapter 110 – Product Liability:The official instructions that explain to a jury the legal standards for proving a product is not reasonably safe due to a design, manufacturing, or warning defect.

  https://www.courts.wa.gov/superiori/pattern_jury_instructions/browse_WPI.cfm?title=110