Many car accidents in the Sacramento area occur because of negligent drivers. A negligent driver may cause an accident if they’re speeding, driving under the influence, or distracted behind the wheel, for example. If you’re injured in a car accident and you know someone else is at fault, you can sue them for liability.
Occasionally, you may get into a single-car accident where you’re unsure who’s at fault. If you suddenly lose control of the wheel, you’re not automatically at fault for your wreck. You should speak with a Sacramento personal injury lawyer from Crowell Law Offices. You can have your car investigated to determine whether a car malfunction contributed to your loss of control. In these cases, it’s sometimes possible to place liability for your accident on a car manufacturer.
You may get into a car accident if your steering wheel locks up unexpectedly, if your brakes are faulty, or if there’s an internal flaw in your vehicle. If the car manufacturers placed a flammable car part too close to the hottest parts of the engine, then your car may catch on fire while you’re driving or when you’re in a collision.
A car manufacturer may be responsible for a defective car part if their design was found to be faulty, if they made a mistake during manufacturing and didn’t address it, or if they didn’t warn consumers of a potential danger associated with the vehicle.
If you determine that your car accident occurred because of a defective car part, then you can sue the product manufacturer for strict liability in California. Strict liability means you need not prove negligence against the product manufacturer, but you must prove that the car part was defective. The court will use a consumer expectation test to assess whether the part was defective.
If you win your case, you can then recover compensation for damages you suffered in your accident. These damages may be economic or non-economic. Economic damages may include medical expenses from injuries you experienced in the car accident, lost income from taking time off from work to recover from your injuries, and property damage to your vehicle, among other costs.
Non-economic damages are how the accident affected your life nonfinancially. These damages may include things like loss of enjoyment of life, scarring and disfigurement, loss of consortium, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
When you get into a car accident, you should examine all the possibilities for why your accident may have occurred. Although driver negligence is the most common cause of car accidents in Sacramento, a car malfunction can also cause an accident and leave you with significant damages. When a car malfunction changes the course of your life, you must hold the car manufacturer accountable.
With the help of an experienced attorney, you can file a products liability lawsuit to claim the maximum settlement you deserve. If you’re ready to speak with a Sacramento personal injury lawyer from Crowell Law Offices, call 916-303-2800 to schedule a free consultation, or visit our website to learn more.
Crowell Law Offices represent clients throughout Northern California with local offices in Sacramento, Placer and Yolo Counties, California. Our personal injury firm defends people who've been injured by another's negligence: auto accidents, brain/spine injuries, child injuries, catastrophic injuries and wrongful death cases.... View full business profile here: Crowell Law Offices
