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DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS


Nationwide Representation
Nationwide Success

Auto Defect Lawyer

investigating defective Windshield Wipers, Auto Accidents & Car Recalls

The safety features of an automobile are often taken for granted, and assumed that they will always function as intended. But that is not always the case with defective auto parts, as every year car makers issue recalls for defective tires, brakes, airbags, throttles, suspension, windows and windshield wipers.

If windshield wipers fail to operate due to defective design or assembly, accidents are more likely when the weather and driving conditions turn bad. The Federal Highway Administration reports that reduced driving visibility is a leading factor in 46 percent of fatal car accidents, many of which are weather related, and almost half of which occur in the rain, fog or snow.

Anyone who suffers an injury following a car accident, in part due to defective windshield wipers, may have a successful claim against a manufacturer, and can recover damages caused by the accident.

Joe Lyon is an experienced Ohio Auto Defect Lawyer and Product Liability Attorney reviewing accidents caused by defective windshield wipers and other auto component failures.

Mr. Lyon has represented plaintiffs nationwide in several lawsuits filed against negligent automakers and motorists.


Types of Defective Windshield Wipers


A windshield wiper system is composed of a wiper motor and wiper arm which connect to the base of the vehicle, and holds the blade, which in turn holds the wiper insert. Most people assume replacing the wiper inserts every so often is merely the only important part of the wiping system, however, each component can be faulty in its own way.

If you suspect your windshield wipers are defective, contact your vehicle manufacturer, check for a recall, or have a mechanic inspect the vehicle’s blades and wiper system. Manufacturers may not always issue a recall if only some of an auto component are defective. Signs of potential design or manufacturing defects include:

  • Wiper streaking
  • Wiper chattering
  • Uneven sweeping
  • Splitting rubber inserts
  • Material deterioration
  • Wipers that fail intermittently

Windshield Wiper Recalls


There have been a number of car models recalled due to possible defective windshield wipers:

  • In February 2018, Mitsubishi Motors North America recalled more than 158,000 vehicles potentially equipped with defective windshield wipers. The recalled included 2011-2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SUVs and 2013-2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SUVs. The company said the front windshield wiper ball joint assemblies are prone to corrosion, leading the ball joint to separate from the wiper link and completely impair wiper functionality.
  • In 2015, over 400,000 RAV4 SUVs were recalled by Toyota after the windshield wiper link could corrode, potentially leading to separation and raising the risk of an accident.
  • FCA US recalled 53,155 2016 Dodge Dart vehicles because of a windshield wiper failure risk, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported.
  • In 2016, General Motors recalled the windshield wiper module on 367,808 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain SUVs in the United Sates because the ball joints in the windshield wiper module can corrode and fall out of the socket.

Accident Prevention & Defective Windshield Wipers


If any part of a wiper system is defective, drivers are at risk of diminished visibility and subsequent accidents. Motorists cannot always rely on manufacturers to install safety features in vehicles so it is best to inspect wipers from time to time. Should an accident occur due to a defect, you may have a product liability claim against a car manufacturer.

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ABOUT THE LYON FIRM

Joseph Lyon has 17 years of experience representing individuals in complex litigation matters. He has represented individuals in every state against many of the largest companies in the world.

The Firm focuses on single-event civil cases and class actions involving corporate neglect & fraud, toxic exposure, product defects & recalls, medical malpractice, and invasion of privacy.

NO COST UNLESS WE WIN

The Firm offers contingency fees, advancing all costs of the litigation, and accepting the full financial risk, allowing our clients full access to the legal system while reducing the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare and financial needs.

photo of attorney Joe Lyon
A Voice for Those who have suffered
Why are these cases important?

Serious injuries and accidents often result through no fault of the injured party, yet the injured victim suffers from life altering physical, mental and financial losses. Such economic and human losses can have devastating financial consequences on individuals and families if not properly compensated. Tort law allows those individuals to seek just legal recourse through personal injury lawsuits.

CONTACT THE LYON FIRM TODAY

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Questions about Defective Windshield Wipers & Recalls

Can I File an Auto Defect Lawsuit?

You may not be aware that your car is defective. It is not always obvious when your seat belt or other safety component fails to function as intended. It can take an expert in auto engineering to determine what contributed to an accident or injury.

You can contact The Lyon Firm, and we will work diligently to review your auto accident case. If an auto defect was in part responsible for an auto injury, a lawsuit can be filed and a large settlement is likely.

If negligent manufacturers and automakers are directly responsible for an auto-related injury, a product liability and personal injury lawsuit may be filed and compensation may be recovered for accident victims. Plaintiffs may seek compensation that may include property damages, past and future medical expenses, lost wages and future earnings, and pain and suffering.

The Lyon Firm takes pride in representing consumers to make America’s roads safer by holding negligent auto manufacturers accountable for auto defects that lead to accidents and injuries. When car makers fail to institute basic safety measures and fail to test auto components before releasing cars tot he public, they may be targeted in product liability lawsuits.

What is the Process?

Pre-Suit Investigation and Negotiations: Personal injury lawsuits are unique and require a thorough investigation before a lawsuit is filed. An initial investigation involves gathering all relevant medical records, accident reports, and interviews with available witnesses.  Preservation letters are drafted to notify the defendant of the case. The duty to preserve electronic evidence is critical in most cases to prevent spoliation.

Filing a Lawsuit in Cincinnati: If pre-suit negotiations are unsuccessful, then a lawsuit must be filed to preserve the statute of limitations.  Filing a lawsuit early in the process is often necessary to begin gathering evidence while the witnesses memories are fresh and documents remain available.

Once suit is filed by your personal injury lawyer, the court will set a case management schedule and the parties will begin exchanging information in the formal process of discovery. Depositions will be taken to preserve testimony for trial and to understand what certain witnesses are likely to say at trial.

Proving Negligence, Causation and Damages: In addition to lay witness testimony and other documentary evidence, personal injury claims rely upon medical and scientific evidence to prove negligence, causation and damages. The chosen expert in a case must have a reliable and sound basis in science and in the facts of the case or his opinion may not be admissible under the rules of evidence.

In the areas of Toxic and Environmental Torts, the admission of expert testimony may be scrutinized harder than in other areas simply because the subject may not have been as widely tested and may rest on novel scientific theories.

Has My Car Been Recalled?

Consumers can follow recall news or search for current and past recalls on the Web sites of the NHTSA, as well as on other car safety advocate outlets. Look on your car windshield for a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number. Your VIN is also located on your car’s registration card.

If your car has been recalled and you have suffered an injury, contact an auto defect attorney to investigate a potential claim

Did an Auto Defect Cause my Accident?

Auto defects have been known to cause accidents in tire failure, tread separation accidents, brake malfunction and sudden acceleration cases.

Auto defects may not cause every accident, but they can play an integral part in causing injury in the event of an accident. This is common in defective seat back collapse, seat belt defects and airbag defects. When these crucial safety features fail to function as they were intended.

Who is Responsible for Auto Defects?

Auto manufacturers and car makers can be held liable in auto defect lawsuits. Many automakers outsource some of their production and may not always be aware of some defects. Honda, for example, purchased all their defective airbags from Takata.

Some defective auto part suits name other defendants like negligent auto dealerships or auto repair shops who alter car parts or fail to properly repair automobiles and leave a serious safety risk.

What Cars are Defective?

The list of defective automobiles changes each year, and it is more likely that certain components are defective rather than an entire brand name. Nowadays many car makers use the same third-party suppliers, which compounds safety issues when a defective auto part is produced.

Why Hire a Product Liability Attorney?

A Cincinnati Auto Defect Lawyer can assist in not only reviewing your accident and injury case, but is able to hold large corporations accountable for the negligent actions in releasing unsafe products to the public.

Auto companies must be held liable in order to keep the roads safe in America. So not only can The Lyon Firm seek compensation for injured plaintiffs, but we can file lawsuits to punish car makers for failing to properly test their auto parts before they are sold to the public.

When car makers fail to produce reliable cars and fail to provide basic road safety features, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and product liability attorneys can hold them responsible and help mitigate injuries and future damages.

The majority of accidents and injuries on the road are preventable, but defective auto design and manufacturing defects may leave victims with huge medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and, in many cases, permanent injuries.

Our Victories

The Lyon Firm aggressively, professionally, and passionately advocates for injured individuals and families against negligent individuals or companies to obtain just compensation under the law. 

$1,000,000

WRONGFUL DEATH: DISTRACTED DRIVER

(Brown County, Kentucky):   The Lyon Firm was second chair a case involving a driver texting and driving when he crossed the median, killing a father of four. The case was resolved once discovery confirmed the cell phone records proved the texting-related incident. The settlement will pay for the surviving childrens’ education. The driver was likely facing additional criminal charges at the time of the settlement.

$495,000

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

(Cincinnati, Ohio):  The Lyon Firm was lead counsel in a $495,000 settlement. This case involved a motorcycle operator who sustained fractures of the calcaneus, talus, medial cuneiform, tarsal bones, and tarsometatarsal when a car ignored its driving lane and crossed into his right-of-way. Settlement provided repayment of medical bills of $20,000 and funds for future education to re-enter the work force in a less physically-demanding job.