Serving Parkersburg, Charleston, Morgantown, and Surrounding Areas of West Virginia
If you have a defective vehicle, a survivable Morgantown car accident can quickly turn into deadly one – or leave you with catastrophic injuries that could have been avoided if the car had simply worked properly. Vehicle defects are more common than most people suppose. Each year, hundreds of thousands of cars are recalled by manufacturers because of the hazards they pose to drivers and passengers.
If you have been injured in a car accident and suspect a defective vehicle contributed to your injuries, call us today at 877-526-5461 for a free phone consultation with one of our experienced Parkersburg car accident attorneys.
Types of Vehicle Defects in West Virginia
Vehicle defects can be caused by a flaw in the car’s design, or by a faulty component. Most defects occur during the design, manufacturing, or shipping processes. Sometimes, the vehicle component will function normally for a period of time before suddenly failing.
Some of the most common types of vehicle defects that lead to car accidents include:
- Brake failure
- Defective tires
- Airbag failure
- Door latch failure
- Faulty headlights or brake lights
- Seat belt failure
- Fuel system malfunctions
Inadequate safety warnings and incomplete instruction manuals can also count as a “defect” if the oversight leads to a serious car accident.
What is “Strict Liability” in West Virginia?
Regular West Virginia personal injury cases require you to prove the other party’s negligence, demonstrating exactly how they are responsible for your injuries. However, defective vehicle cases are decided under the law of “strict liability,” which does not require you to prove negligence. As long as the car had a defect that caused your injury, you can pursue compensation. You do not need to prove that the manufacturer was negligent.
However, you must be able to prove that you were using the vehicle in the way that it was intended to be used. For example, if you took a sedan off-road, this could nullify your case.
West Virginia Defective Vehicle Car Accident Lawyer
If you have further questions about defective vehicle cases in West Virginia, please contact Jim Leach Attorneys at Law today or call 877-526-5461 for a free phone consultation with one of our experienced Morgantown car accident lawyers. We represent injured car accident victims in Morgantown, Parkersburg, Charleston, and all of West Virginia.