Auto Defects

Modern vehicles contain advanced safety technology, yet auto defects remain a significant cause of preventable injuries and fatalities each year. When a car, SUV, or truck contains a flaw in its design, assembly, or safety systems, it can malfunction without warning—turning an ordinary drive into a life-altering event. Auto defect lawsuits allow injured drivers, passengers, and families to pursue compensation and hold automakers accountable for releasing unsafe vehicles into the market.

Auto defects often relate to critical components such as brakes, steering systems, fuel tanks, airbags, seatbelts, electronic systems, or structural integrity. Because vehicles operate at high speeds and rely on mechanical precision, even a minor defect can lead to catastrophic consequences. Rollovers, engine fires, brake failures, unintended acceleration, and airbag malfunctions are among the most common failures associated with auto defect litigation.

At our firm, we are dedicated to seeking compensation for your losses, holding negligent parties responsible, and making our roads safer for everyone. With The Lyon Firm as your legal counsel, you can be confident that your case is in capable hands, and justice will be served.

Explore our website to learn more about our experience, our commitment to your case, and how we can assist you in your fight for justice in cases involving defective auto components. Your peace of mind and well-being are our top priorities, and we are here to help you every step of the way.

What Kind of Damages Are Available in a Defective Auto Components Lawsuit?

In a defective auto components lawsuit, various types of damages may be available to compensate the plaintiff (the person bringing the lawsuit) for the harm and losses they have suffered due to the defective component.

These damages can be broadly categorized into economic and non-economic damages:

• Property Damage: If the defective auto component caused damage to your vehicle or other property, you may be entitled to compensation for the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged property.
• Medical Expenses: If you suffered injuries due to the defective component, you can seek compensation for medical bills, including hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, prescription medications, physical therapy, and other healthcare-related costs.
• Lost Wages: If your injuries resulted in missed work days or a reduced capacity to earn income, you can claim compensation for the wages you lost as a direct result of the defect.
• Pain and Suffering: These damages are awarded for the physical and emotional pain and suffering you endured due to the injuries caused by the defective auto component. This can include physical pain, mental anguish, and emotional distress.
• Punitive Damages: In some cases, the court may award punitive damages if it can be proven that the manufacturer or responsible party acted with a reckless disregard for the safety of consumers. Punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.

The availability and calculation of damages in a defective auto components lawsuit can vary depending on the specific circumstances of the case, the severity of the injuries, and the applicable laws in the jurisdiction.

It is essential to consult with an experienced attorney who specializes in product liability and defective auto components cases to assess your specific situation and determine the potential damages you may be entitled to pursue.

Defective Auto Parts & Auto Recalls

Cars may be recalled but defective auto parts may be all too common on America’s roads. Common auto defects include:

• Seat Back Collapse–When a seat collapses, the seat belts will also fail, and passengers in the rear may be crushed.
• Airbag Defects–There have been a number of huge airbag recalls in recent years, due to faulty airbags that fail to deploy or deploy without any collision. Takata airbags have been part of the largest auto recall in history.
• Defective Wipers–Functioning wipers may be taken for granted, but when windshield wipers fail to work properly, a small bit of rain can turn into a very dangerous situation.
• Defective Brakes–Braking malfunction have affected a wide range vehicles, and can be particularly deadly. Brake defect recalls have been issued in recent years.
• Defective Software–In the modern era, automobiles are built with computer software that controls most of the vehicle. This can be convenient, but when auto software is defective, major safety components of the car might fail.
• Suspension Defects–Suspension defects have led to rollaway accidents and serious injury.
• Car Jack Defects–Crush injuries have been reported when car jacks fail to hold the weight they are meant to. Design defects and poor materials have been implicated in many auto defect lawsuits.
• Window Defects–Power window defects can lead to a variety of hand crush injury and children have reportedly had their head and neck caught in defective power windows.
• Defective Fuel System–Fires and car explosions are not as uncommon as one might think. Trucks, busses and cars have all been involved in fire accidents that have proved exceedingly dangerous.
• Throttle Defects (leading to unintended acceleration)–Throttle defects have been a target for auto defect litigation as sudden acceleration cases have popped up across the country. The NHTSA has linked a number of accidents and deaths to throttle issues, though car manufacturers have denied responsibility. Motorists report throttles being stuck and vehicles accelerating as they attempt to apply the brakes.
• Tire malfunction–Tire blowouts and tire failure are one of the most common auto defects seen in the auto industry. Almost weekly, there is another tire recall. Tread separation lawsuits have been filed on behalf of injured plaintiffs.
• Car seat defects–Children’s products are not always tested properly and defective child car seats have been released to the public with shocking results.
• Defective Cruise Control–Cars have been stuck in cruise control and auto software defects have increased the risks of auto accidents.
• Collision Avoidance Defects–With new technology comes new safety issues. Not all collision avoidance systems work as intended and motorists pay the consequences. Defective auto software cases are piling up and automakers have a duty to produce safer technology.
• Defective Engines: automakers have been hit with a number of lawsuits involving engines poorly manufactured, with emissions issues, burn too much oil, or are inefficient.

Other Automotive Defects

• Other Automotive Defects
• Electrical Defects
• Gas Tank Defects
• Defective RV Components
• Automatic Braking Malfunction
• Trailer Hitch Failure
• Faulty Transmissions

Can You File an Auto Defect Lawsuit?

Following a serious car accident related to defective automobiles or auto components, a plaintiffs has the right to take legal action and seek compensation for those liable for injuries sustained. The Lyon Firm has years of experience engaging car manufacturers after an auto defect has been discovered.

The Lyon Firm is dedicated to protecting the consumer and holding large corporations accountable for their negligence. Joe Lyon can help recover expenses related to medical costs and long-term disability, as well as seek punitive damages to ensure America’s roads are safer into the future.

Auto defects are very common causes of road accidents and injuries. Each year millions of cars and other vehicles are recalled due to faulty parts that increase the risk of accidents and deaths. The Lyon Firm works with industry experts to ensure that when an automotive defect or a recalled vehicle leads to an injury, the plaintiffs receive compensation.

Aftermarket Auto Defects

It may be tempting for some car owners to enhance a vehicle’s performance or aesthetics with aftermarket automotive products, but such products may not be regulated, or they may be installed by negligent auto dealerships or mechanics. Improper installation or defective aftermarket automotive products can pose safety hazards to car owners and motorists. Some common aftermarket auto defects may include the following:

• Spinning rims and wheel hubs
• Cold air intakes
• Performance mufflers and exhaust
• Turbochargers
• Superchargers
• Suspension
• Lift kits
• Scissor doors

Crashworthiness Doctrine

The crashworthiness doctrine or “second collision” doctrine takes into account injuries that occur in automotive accidents where the occupant of the car sustained injuries that could have been prevented or would have been less severe had the vehicle been designed differently.

Crashworthiness cases involve seat belt defects, air bag defects, as well as structural aspects of the car that failed to provide sufficient survival space or protection to the injured occupant. Without the crashworthiness doctrine, an automotive manufacturer would simply be able to point to another cause of the accident as the sole proximate cause and not absorb any liability for a poorly designed restraint system.

In Leichtamer v. American Motors Corp., the plaintiff argued that the jeep was defective in design due to the materials used in the roll bar. Plaintiffs presented evidence that had the design utilized stronger materials, the roll bar would not have collapsed in the roll over accident, and the occupants would have suffered less severe injuries.

Liability in Auto Defect Cases

Several parties may be responsible for a vehicle-related injury caused by mechanical or design flaws:

• Automakers for defective engineering, insufficient safety testing, or cutting corners during production.
• Parts Manufacturers when a specific component—such as a tire, airbag, or ignition switch—fails.
• Dealerships if they sell recalled vehicles or fail to disclose known issues.
• Repair Shops when improper repairs contribute to equipment failure.

Auto defect lawsuits typically involve product liability claims, which allow injured parties to seek compensation without proving negligence. Instead, victims must show that the defect existed, caused the accident, and resulted in measurable harm.