Orlando Automotive Defects Accident
More than 22 million vehicles were recalled in the U.S. last year, including those made by major automakers such as Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. Car manufacturers issued these recalls because potentially dangerous and defective automobiles made it into into the marketplace. Unfortunately, in some cases, many people had already suffered injury or death by the time a recall went out.
If you or a loved one has been harmed in an accident caused by a defective automobile or automotive part, it will be important to get help from a lawyer who has the experience and resources to pursue justice for you.
Frank M. Edison, P.A., is ready to help. Contact us without delay. Our firm serves clients throughout Florida, including Orlando and Winter Park. Our initial consultations are always free.
Taking Legal Action in Florida Due to a Defective Vehicle
You can take legal action in any situation where a vehicle defect either caused you to become involved in a collision or caused your injuries to be worse. You may be able to pursue a damage claim against a car manufacturer, distributor or reseller as well as the manufacturer who made individual defective parts of the vehicle. If a safety device such as an air bag malfunctioned, you could also pursue a claim for damages against the manufacturer of this product.
There have been numerous situations in recent years where defects in vehicles were directly attributed to accidents and injuries. For example, accident claims can be made when a crash or injuries are caused by:
- Tire blowouts or tire tread separation
- Rollovers (especially in SUVs, large passenger vans and other top-heavy vehicles)
- Exploding gas tanks
- Collapsing roofs
- Malfunctioning safety devices
- Malfunctioning accelerators
- Defective brakes
- Air bag defects
- Seat belt defects.
In any situation where a car or its parts fail to perform as intended, you can recover damages from those responsible for getting that vehicle into your hands. An experienced car accident lawyer can assist you in determining who is to blame and in making a personal injury or wrongful death claim.
Establishing a Claim Based on Automotive Defects
Claims based on automotive defects are different from negligence claims. You have many legal arguments you can use to make your case and hold the manufacturer responsible.
For example, in addition to arguing that the manufacturer was negligent in some way, you can also pursue a damage claim based on:
- Strict liability rules, which hold product manufacturers responsible for all injuries resulting from defective products even if the manufacturer was not negligent
- Breach of express or implied vehicle warranties
- Design defects
- Failure to warn customers of risks if the vehicle or part is used as intended.
You will also need to prove the extent of your injuries and losses caused by the automotive defects. Cases based on automotive defects can be complicated because you can be compensated not just in situations where the defect caused the accident, but also when an accident happened and a defect made your injuries worse. In these cases, you may be able to sue both the driver to blame for the collision and the car manufacturer.
Your Winter Park car accident lawyer will help you to understand how best to pursue your claim and who to take legal action against so you can seek the maximum in compensation.
Contact an Automotive Defect Attorney Serving Orlando and Winter Park
Automotive defect cases often involve going up against major car companies, who may try to argue that the car was fine and your behavior was the cause of the accident or injuries. You will need to have an advocate representing you who can help you to build a strong case and who will work to gather evidence to prove the defect existed and caused harm to you or a loved one.
Vehicle defect cases are complicated for a variety of other reasons.
For instance, if many other people have suffered similar harm due to a similar defect, it may be beneficial to join a class-action lawsuit. However, there may be reasons why class-action litigation would not serve your best interests. An attorney can help you make this decision.
In some cases, individual lawsuits filed in federal court by those who have suffered similar harm due to a similar defect may be consolidated for pretrial proceedings. These are called multi-district litigation cases, or MDLs. If this is the route that your case takes, it will be important to work with an attorney who will be looking out for your interests.
The law firm of Frank M. Eidson, P.A., can use its experience in mass tort litigation to protect your rights throughout the legal process. As the only attorney in the law firm, Frank M. Eidson will make sure your case gets the close, personal attention it deserves.
Contact us by phone or online today to get started.
Sources / More Information
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