By law, car manufacturers are required to engineer and design vehicles that meet at least the minimum safety standards. Although there are daily advancements in this area, there are many issues with cars that stem from their design and overall function. This is known as product liability, which is one of the most significant causes of car accidents.
In spite of federal safety standards and comprehensive testing on all manufactured vehicles, there are still a considerable number of defective cars on the road.
What Do Car Makers Do About Design Defects?
In general, car manufacturers have two choices after the discovery of a design flaw in a vehicle. They are as follows:
- Recall the defective component of the vehicle itself and fix it
- Pay off any lawsuits that come about as a result of accidents
It’s important to be aware that manufacturing defects in cars can lead to grave accidents. You must also be mindful of design defects that your vehicle’s manufacturer has made previously and how to prevent a car accident if one presents itself during a commute.
Brake Failure Can Result in a Major Car Accident
Fortunately, the modern dual-circuit brake systems of today make it very unlikely that a vehicle will have total brake failure. This is because they design the technology in such a way that if one side of the brake circuit malfunctions, the other side can enable the vehicle to stop. Disc brakes, those found on front wheels modern cars, are considerably more efficient than the drum brake systems of old cars, making the potential of a brake failure accident occurring slim to none.
Defective Tires Can Cause a Car Accident
Radial tires are much safer than the bias-ply tires that were popular 25 years ago; however, issues can still arise as a result of tire traction or air pressure. If a car’s tires are under-inflated, they can explode under pressure. If you have worn out or uneven tires, the vehicle may become difficult to control, potentially causing a car accident. It’s important to check your tires regularly and have a mechanic inspect them every 5,000 miles for safety.
Poor Steering and Suspension Can Result in a Car Accident
The suspension system keeps a car’s tires in contact with the road in the proper, stable manner. Likewise, the steering mechanism allows the driver to travel while avoiding road obstacles. If there is a failure of the steering or suspension system, even the best driver can end up in a severe accident. It’s always wise to have a mechanic check these systems every 10,000 miles.
Accidents caused by a vehicular defect can be tricky. With so many bases to cover and factors to consider, it is best to hire a highly qualified attorney with experience handling such cases. Get paired with a local vehicular defect accident attorney when you contact Car Accident Cases for a free case evaluation today.