Who’s Liable for an Auto Accident Caused By Defective Parts?

What Defects Can Occur in Car Parts?

There are generally three product defects that are protected by NJ law: design defects, manufacturing defects, and marketing defects.

Design defects occur when the product’s design is unsafe and inherently flawed. When these issues arise, there is no chance that the product could ever be completely safe or function as intended.

Manufacturing defects happen when the product is designed correctly but incorrectly assembled or built. Certain batches of products could be defective because of the lot where they were manufactured wrong.

Finally, marketing defects occur when the manufacturer fails to provide consumers with appropriate instructions for use or warnings about the product’s potential dangers. If users are unaware of how to properly operate the vehicle or are not warned about the dangers of misuse, they may unknowingly put themselves and others at risk.

Examples of auto defects include:

• Airbags failing to deploy
• Airbags deploying without cause
• Seatbelt tension detector failure
• Broken seatbelt latch
• Faulty anti-lock brake system
• Steering system failure

Any of the above or more could cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle and result in a serious accident with injuries and even death.

Who is Considered Liable for an Auto Accident Caused By Defective Parts?

Because many individuals and entities handle cars and their parts before drivers take the wheel, multiple parties can face liability for an accident caused by defective parts. These parties can include the following.

1. Manufacturers: If a part has an inherent flaw in its design, was manufactured incorrectly, or was installed incorrectly, the manufacturer can face product liability. Any design or production defects that led to the part failing and causing the accident are valid enough reasons for the manufacturer to be held responsible for the resulting damages.
2. Distributors: Third-party suppliers or distributors can also face liability. If they provide manufacturers with a defective part, mishandle the product, modify the product in any way, or allow distribution of faulty parts they can be deemed liable.
3. Mechanics: Repair shops or even dealerships can also be held accountable for damages after an accident. If the dealership sold a defective car or part they could be on the hook for negligence and poor quality control. Similarly, if a mechanic at an auto body shop recently worked on the car and installed a defective part they could face liability.

Any entity that had a hand in creating, installing, or distributing a vehicle with faulty parts could face liability after an accident. Companies and individuals have a responsibility to ensure the safety and proper functioning of their vehicles and parts. When safety is overlooked, the responsibility of the ensuing damages will fall to the negligent parties.