What Happens If a Mechanical Failure Causes a Car Accident?
Who is legally and financially responsible for car accidents caused by mechanical failures?
In many motor vehicle collisions, it is not difficult to determine who is at fault. Usually, it is due to one driver ignoring traffic laws, distraction, or reckless driving. But what happens if you get into an accident due to a tire blowout, or faulty brakes? Are you still legally liable for the damages caused by the accident? In most cases, the answer is yes.
Mechanical Failures That Can Lead to Accidents
Cars are large, dangerous vehicles, and there are a number of mechanical failures that can lead to car accidents:
Worn tires don’t grip the road as well, which increases the stopping distance and makes the vehicle harder to control. They are especially dangerous on wet or icy roads. In addition, balding tires are more susceptible to blowouts.
Brake issues make it difficult to stop in time to avoid a collision. Faulty brake lines, worn pads or discs, and malfunctioning antilock systems can all affect brake performance.
Suspension problems such as worn springs, shocks and struts can cause shaking and make it more difficult to control the vehicle.
Faulty steering such as pulling or losing power steering can also make the vehicle hard to control and avoid collisions.
Burned-out lights can make it difficult to see other drivers, or for them to see you.
Transmission failure can reduce acceleration time, or cause the vehicle to break down while driving.
Vehicle Owner Liability
In general, it is the vehicle owner’s responsibility to ensure that their vehicle is maintained to ensure safety. Failure to keep up on routine maintenance or get a dangerous issue repaired can be considered negligence in a car accident case. Being unable to afford the necessary repairs that keep the vehicle running safely does not absolve the owner of this responsibility.
Of course, it must be shown that the failure to repair the vehicle was the cause of the accident and that the owner previously knew about the problem but neglected to get it fixed. It is also the owner’s responsibility to be aware of what routine maintenance is required, as that information is readily available in the owner’s manual and online.
In addition, vehicles in need of maintenance and repair can be distracting to drive. It may be difficult to focus on your driving and other cars on the road if your vehicle is handling poorly due to a failing suspension system, or if your worn tires are causing the vehicle to slide. This is especially concerning as it has been shown that distracted driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving, and sometimes even more so.
Third-Party Liability
There are cases in which the driver alone is not responsible for failing to fix a mechanical issue that caused an accident. If the vehicle was taken to a mechanic to fix the issue, the mechanic can be held liable if the repairs were faulty. The repair facility can be considered partially liable for an accident that causes injury if they overlooked or failed to fix an issue.
In addition, the vehicle manufacturer can also be liable if a defect contributed to the accident. If they failed to issue a recall or notify vehicle owners of a dangerous defect, the owners have no way to know that there is an issue to be corrected. If that defect leads to an accident, the manufacturer can be held at least partially responsible. However, if the driver knew about the defect and failed to get it repaired, the responsibility is on the driver.
Determining liability in these cases can be tricky, so it is recommended to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney if you have been in a car accident that was caused by a mechanical failure.