Florida residents spend a lot of time in their cars. Many people simply trust that auto manufacturers have done everything reasonably possible to make vehicles safe. Unfortunately, as word of one automobile recall after another hits the news, it becomes clear that many vehicles have hidden defects that render them unsafe.
Under the law of product liability, auto manufacturers can be held liable if an automobile design defect causes death or injury to drivers or passengers. Product liability can hold manufacturers accountable when their negligence causes harm to others. It also helps the injured or their families cope with the aftermath of an accident.
Design defects take many forms, from body components that fail to provide occupant protection in the event of a crash to airbags that discharge metal fragments with explosive force when they are deployed.
A vehicle design defect may be one that makes a crash more likely, such as defective brake or steering systems. Or the defect may not cause the crash itself, but cause more serious occupant injuries when a crash occurs, as with defective airbags or seat belts.
A product manufacturer is liable for injuries or deaths caused by an unreasonably dangerous product. A product may be unreasonably dangerous because of the way it is designed, the way it was manufactured or because it carries an insufficient warning of potential safety issues.
At the law firm of Kurzban Kurzban Weinger Tetzeli & Pratt, P.A., we have a proven track record of success in taking on automakers who have put dangerous vehicles on the market. For more information on our experience with these complex cases, please visit our product liability web page.
