Brake Defects
Brake Defect Attorney in San Antonio, TX
Experiencing a brake failure can be a terrifying ordeal, and brake failures can lead to dangerous – and potentially deadly – high-speed collisions. If your brakes failed, or if you were hit by another vehicle that experienced a brake failure, you deserve to be compensated, and the company that is to blame for your accident deserves to be held legally and financially accountable.
At Law Offices of Ronald A. Ramos, we are committed to fighting for accident victims and their families. We have significant experience in cases involving brake failures and other mechanical defects; and, if you are entitled to compensation, San Antonio auto accident attorney Ronald A. Ramos can make sure you receive the compensation you deserve. If you suspect that a brake failure played a role in your accident, we encourage you to contact us immediately so that we can conduct a thorough investigation and preserve any critical evidence before it disappears.
When Are a Vehicle’s Brakes Considered Defective?
Brake defects can take a number of different forms. In most cases, brake failures result from flawed engineering (known as a “design defect”), or from flaws in the manufacturing process. However, brakes can also fail as a result of faulty maintenance work by a repair shop or local dealer; and, when investigating an auto accident involving a brake failure, it is critical to identify the specific cause of the failure so that the correct party can be held responsible.
Common issues resulting from brake defects and faulty brake jobs include:
- Antilock system failure
- Brake pad failure
- Brake rotor failure
- Cracks and leaks in brake lines
- Electrical or brake system malfunction
- Hydraulic brake or air brake failure
- Other types of brake failures
If you were injured in a collision caused by another vehicle’s brake failure, it is also important to assess whether the other driver holds some accountability. Did the other driver know that his or her brakes needed maintenance? Was there something the other driver could have done to avoid the collision despite the brake defect (for example, not following too closely) In cases of brake failure, there are often multiple factors involved, and identifying all of the responsible parties is the key to maximizing your financial recovery.
Your San Antonio Auto Accident Attorney
With more than 30 years of experience in auto accident settlements and litigation, attorney Ronald A. Ramos has secured millions of dollars in compensation drivers, passengers, and their loved ones. He has a proven record of success in complex cases; and, unlike other attorneys, he does not shy away from taking the big corporations to trial. When your health and financial stability are on the line, you need an attorney who has the skills, resources, and dedication needed to effectively assert your legal rights. Mr. Ramos knows what your case means to you, and he will not stop fighting until you have received just compensation for your accident-related losses.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
To schedule your free consultation with Mr. Ramos, please contact our law offices in San Antonio, TX. We handle all cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless Mr. Ramos helps you win just compensation. You can reach us 24/7, so call (210) 308-8811 or tell us about your accident online now.
Types of Brake Defects That Lead to Accidents
Brake systems are among the most critical safety components in any vehicle. When they fail, the consequences are often catastrophic because the driver cannot slow down or stop to avoid a collision. Brake defects can originate from manufacturing errors, design flaws, or inadequate maintenance warnings, and they affect every type of vehicle on the road.
Common brake defects include brake fade, where overheated brake components lose their ability to generate friction—a particular danger on San Antonio’s hilly terrain and during Texas summer heat. Brake line failures occur when hydraulic lines corrode, crack, or are improperly routed, causing a sudden loss of brake fluid pressure. Anti-lock braking system (ABS) malfunctions can cause wheels to lock unexpectedly during braking, leading to loss of control. Master cylinder failures prevent the driver’s foot pressure from being transmitted to the brake calipers. Defective brake pads and rotors—including pads manufactured with insufficient friction material or rotors prone to warping—can dramatically reduce stopping power.
Brake Defects vs. Brake Wear: Understanding the Difference
Not every brake failure is a defect. Brakes are wear components that degrade over time with normal use. However, when brakes fail prematurely or catastrophically due to a manufacturing flaw, a design deficiency, or inadequate warnings about maintenance intervals, the manufacturer or parts supplier may be liable under Texas product liability law.
A brake defect claim differs from a negligent maintenance claim. If a mechanic fails to replace worn brake pads during a routine service and the brakes subsequently fail, the mechanic or repair shop may be liable for negligence. But if the brake pads were manufactured with substandard materials that caused them to fail at only 10,000 miles instead of the expected 40,000 miles, the manufacturer bears strict liability under Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 82. In many cases, both a product defect and improper maintenance may contribute to the same accident, meaning multiple parties can be held responsible.
Accidents Caused by Brake Failures
Brake defects frequently cause rear-end collisions when a driver cannot stop in time, head-on collisions when a vehicle crosses the center line after losing braking ability, and intersection crashes when brakes fail at traffic signals. On highways, brake failure at speed can trigger multi-vehicle chain-reaction accidents and rollover crashes.
Injuries from brake failure accidents tend to be severe because they often involve high-speed impacts with little or no deceleration before the crash. Victims commonly suffer traumatic brain injuries, cervical and thoracic spine injuries, lumbar disc injuries, multiple fractures, and internal organ damage. In the worst cases, brake failure accidents result in wrongful death.
Pursuing a Brake Defect Claim in Texas
Successfully proving a brake defect claim requires preserving the failed brake components, obtaining the vehicle’s maintenance records, and retaining qualified engineering experts to analyze the failure. Your attorney will investigate whether the brake manufacturer issued any recalls or technical service bulletins related to the defect, review NHTSA complaint databases for similar failures, and examine the vehicle’s event data recorder for pre-crash braking data.
Under Texas law, you may recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and diminished quality of life. If the manufacturer knew about the brake defect and failed to issue a recall or warning, punitive damages under CPRC Section 41.003 may also be available. The two-year statute of limitations (CPRC 16.003) applies, so it is important to act promptly.
The Law Offices of Ronald A. Ramos, P.C. handles complex vehicle defect cases throughout San Antonio and South Texas. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your brake defect accident and find out what your case may be worth.
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