Not all car accidents are caused by human error. There are times when mechanical malfunctions can cause a car accident. Knowing and understanding the typical mechanical problems that can lead to an auto accident is essential because such problems make a car accident injury case much more complex. Other parties, including the car manufacturer, component companies, technology companies, or the dealership that provided recent maintenance, can potentially be held liable for the accident.
Bonina & Bonina, PC, in Brooklyn, NY, handles Motor Vehicle Accidents across the State of New York, and those caused by mechanical defects or malfunctions are not uncommon. Let’s review the top five mechanical malfunctions that can result in an unfortunate car accident.
Common Vehicular Mechanical Malfunctions
Here is an overview of the five most common mechanical malfunctions in cars that cause accidents:
- Tire Blowouts: A tire blowout can happen when one of your car’s tires suddenly bursts while driving. This can happen for several reasons, including the age of the tires, excessive tire wear, or potholes. A tire blowout can cause the driver to lose control of their vehicle, veer off the road, and even roll over. It is also essential to regularly check your tires for wear, low pressure, damage, and alignment problems.
- Brake Failure: The brakes on your car are critical to the safe operation of your vehicle. Brakes may sometimes fail to function correctly due to hydraulic failures, a defective master cylinder, or worn-down brake pads. Any of these defects can result in the inability to stop your car quickly. When a vehicle’s brakes aren’t functioning, it could result in a driver being unable to stop, a rear-end collision, or even a T-bone accident.
- Electrical System Malfunction: Your car’s electrical system is crucial, from starting the engine to powering the headlights and brake lights. An electrical system failure can take out one or more essential features, including the power steering, lighting, and ignition system. The loss of power steering alone can create an auto accident as the driver struggles to maneuver the vehicle and cannot steer the car effectively.
- Suspension Problems: Several components of a vehicle’s suspension system, including springs, struts, shocks, and control arms, work together to support the weight of a car and its passengers. If there is one or more defective components within the suspension system, this would lead to uneven wear on tires, poor steering response, and difficulty handling the vehicle. Defective suspension components such as shocks or struts can cause the driver to lose control of his car and cause an accident.
- Steering Issues: The vehicle’s steering system allows the driver to control the car’s direction. If the power steering gear fails, the driver might lose control of the vehicle as the car becomes difficult to steer. An insufficiently greased or loosened tie-rod can also lead to an accident, as it can cause the steering to fail suddenly, resulting in a hazardous situation.
Product Liability and Motor Vehicle Accidents in New York
Mistakes can happen even with the most technologically advanced manufacturing processes and stringent quality control measures in the auto industry. Mechanical defects can slip through the cracks, or perfectly working components can malfunction, causing drivers to lose control of a vehicle and suffer an accident. When a vehicle component fails and causes an accident with injuries, this can fall under Product Liability law, and the manufacturer can be held liable for the accident.
Routine maintenance by a local car dealer can also cause an accident. Failure to sufficiently tighten a tire’s lug nuts, forgetting to replace an oil drain plug, inappropriately attaching critical braking components, and other oversights can make a vehicle unsafe and cause an accident. In such cases, the car dealership can be held liable for the accident and your injuries and losses.
You need an experienced Defective Products Lawyer or a Motor Vehicle Accidents Lawyer in New York when these incidents occur. Bonina & Bonina, PC, has years of experience in auto accident and product liability cases. Contact us today for a free consultation and schedule an appointment with our team to discuss how we can help you.