Other Vehicle Defects and Maintenance Issues
While airbag, brake, and tire failures are among the most common defect-related causes of vehicle collisions, there are numerous other types of defects and maintenance issues that can lead to dangerous accidents as well. When seeking compensation for accident-related injuries, it is important to explore all potential causes and all potential sources of compensation, as maximizing your financial recovery can be critical to ensuring your long-term health and wellbeing.
Auto accident cases involving defects and maintenance issues present unique challenges. In order to protect your rights, you need experienced legal representation. At Law Offices of Ronald A. Ramos, we have more than three decades of experience representing accident victims and their families. San Antonio accident lawyer Ronald A. Ramos has a proven record of success in auto accident settlement negotiations and litigation; and, if you are entitled to financial compensation, he will fight tirelessly to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Defects and Maintenance Issues that can Lead to Vehicle Collisions
From a car’s electrical system to the cargo straps on an 18-wheeler, virtually all components of a vehicle have the potential to fail. When we investigate auto accident cases, we do not rule out any potential causes until we have isolated the factors that are responsible for our clients’ injuries. Along with driver negligence; airbag, brake, and tire defects; and other non-vehicle-related causes, other potential causes we may assess include:
- Cracked or poorly-engineered wheels
- Defective headlights, brake lights, and turn signals
- Defective seat belts, buckles, and child safety seats
- Engine and transmission malfunctions
- Fuel system failures
- Faulty accelerator pedals
- Seat defects
- Steering system failures
- Window glass defects
- Wiring faults and electrical component defects
Liability When Defects and Maintenance Issues Cause Car Accidents
Like most other auto accident claims, claims involving defects and maintenance issues are typically resolved through the insurance companies. However, in order to recover just compensation, you need to know which insurance company (or insurance companies) are liable for your losses. If a defect or maintenance issue is to blame for your injuries, we may be able to pursue a claim against the insurance company(ies) for:
- A component manufacturer – The company that designed, engineered, and manufactured the specific vehicle component that failed.
- A vehicle manufacturer – The company that installed a dangerous or defective component in your (or another driver’s) vehicle before delivering it to the showroom floor.
- An automotive dealership – The dealer that sold you (or another driver) a defective vehicle or that performed negligent maintenance work on a car, truck, SUV, or motorcycle.
- A maintenance or repair shop – The independent or franchised shop that failed to fix your (or another driver’s) vehicle according to the requisite standards and specifications.
Speak with Our San Antonio Accident Lawyer for Free
San Antonio accident lawyer Ronald A. Ramos has over 30 years’ experience representing accident victims and their families. He can make sure you receive just compensation for your accident-related losses. It costs you nothing out-of-pocket to learn about your rights, and you do not pay anything unless we help you win just compensation. To get started with a free, no-obligation consultation, please call our offices at (210) 308-8811 or send us a message online today.
Common Vehicle Defects Beyond Tires, Brakes, and Airbags
While tire defects, brake failures, and airbag malfunctions receive the most attention, many other vehicle components can fail catastrophically and cause serious accidents. These lesser-known defects are just as dangerous and may be harder to identify without expert investigation.
Steering system defects include power steering pump failures, loose or worn tie rod ends, and electronic power steering malfunctions. When a driver loses the ability to steer, the vehicle can drift into oncoming traffic, causing head-on collisions, or veer off the roadway entirely. Acceleration defects—commonly called unintended or sudden acceleration—occur when the throttle sticks open or the electronic throttle control system malfunctions, sending the vehicle surging forward without driver input.
Seatbelt defects involve buckles that unlatch on impact, retractors that fail to lock during a crash, or webbing that tears under force. A failed seatbelt can turn a survivable collision into a fatal one. Electrical system defects can cause engine fires, disable critical safety systems like anti-lock brakes and stability control, or cause a complete loss of power while driving. Fuel system defects—including improperly routed fuel lines and fuel tanks vulnerable to puncture—can result in post-crash fires that cause catastrophic burn injuries.
Roof Crush and Rollover Defects
Roof crush defects are among the most deadly vehicle defects because they directly compromise the survival space inside the vehicle during a rollover accident. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 216 sets minimum roof strength requirements, but many vehicles—particularly SUVs and trucks—have roofs that collapse excessively during real-world rollovers, even if they technically meet the standard.
When a roof crushes inward, it can cause traumatic brain injuries, cervical spine fractures, paralysis, and death. Related rollover defects include electronic stability control systems that fail to prevent rollovers, door latches that open during the rollover event (ejecting occupants), and window glazing that shatters and allows partial ejection.
Holding Manufacturers Accountable Under Texas Law
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 82 provides a strict liability framework for defective product claims. Manufacturers, distributors, and sellers can all be held liable when a vehicle defect causes injury—regardless of whether they were negligent. You must demonstrate that the product was defective when it left the defendant’s control and that the defect was a producing cause of your injuries.
Vehicle defect cases often require extensive investigation, including accident reconstruction, metallurgical analysis of failed components, review of the vehicle’s event data recorder (black box), and discovery of internal manufacturer documents such as engineering test results, warranty claim data, and prior complaint records. An experienced San Antonio car accident attorney will know how to preserve critical evidence and retain the right experts.
Compensation in vehicle defect cases may include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and in cases of egregious manufacturer misconduct, punitive damages under CPRC Section 41.003. If a defective vehicle caused your accident, contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
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