While human error remains at the top of the list as the primary cause of car accidents, there are still plenty of collisions that occur due to vehicle defects. In a Crash-Stats survey, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that the critical cause in 2% of crashes was a vehicle component’s failure or degradation. That may sound like a small number, but it is still approximately 44,000 car accidents during the two-year period covered by the survey. When an incident causes injury, a victim may be able to recover his or her losses under Maryland law. You should discuss the specifics of your case with a Baltimore County auto accident lawyer if you have been injured due to one of these common defective car parts.
- Defective Brakes: There are many components associated with a car’s brake system, including the pads, brake lines, brake cylinders, and brake pedals. Any of these parts can fail, especially at high speeds. When a component in the brake system falters, the driver of the car can lose control or be unable to stop as necessary to avoid a collision.
- Steering Failure: Another critical component of maneuvering a vehicle is the steering mechanism and related parts. When an operator cannot control the direction of the car, serious accidents often result. The parts within the steering system most likely to be defective are the power steering pump, hydraulics that operate the power steering mechanism, or tie rods.
- Defective Airbags: While they are not part of controlling a car, airbags are an important safety feature of a vehicle. When they are properly designed and manufactured, airbags should deploy when the car senses an impact. However, a defective airbag can actually inflate randomly, impairing the operator’s visibility, ability to steer, and reaction time. A defective airbag can even cause car accidents when they deploy under proper conditions. There may be issues with the charging mechanism, which can cause anomalies with the rate of inflation.
- Flawed Tires: A car’s tires are the only point of contact with the road below, which makes them extremely important to the vehicle’s overall safe functioning. When a tire fails due to a defect, a driver can lose control over the car. It is common for a blowout to force a vehicle into another lane, into oncoming traffic, or off the road entirely. The materials used to produce a tire are often to blame, such as inferior rubber or adhesives.
Fortunately, Maryland law allows you to recover for your losses if you were injured in an auto accident that is tied to defective car parts. Damages are available to compensate you for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. However, it is important to have an experienced attorney on your side, whether in settlement negotiations or when going to trial. If you have questions about defective car components or any other causes of auto accidents, please contact attorney Michael A. Freedman. Our knowledgeable lawyers can also set up a case assessment at our Owings Mills, MD office.
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