Myrtle Beach Mechanical Malfunction Attorneys
If you were in a car accident caused by a mechanical malfunction, you may be eligible for compensation. Cars rely on thousands of mechanisms in order to function safely, and even small mechanical failures can cause devastating accidents. In order to ensure safe function, the manufacture, sale, and maintenance of vehicles are held to a very high standard.
If a car manufacturer, parts manufacturer, or mechanic makes an error that causes a mechanical malfunction, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical bills, car repairs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
The experienced car accident mechanical failures attorneys from Law Office of William J. Luse, Inc. Accident & Injury Lawyers have helped numerous clients just like you. We know the federal and state laws related to car accidents and mechanical malfunctions through and through, and we are ready to fight for you. Give us a call today at (843) 839-4795 for a consultation.
Why Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer?
In order to make a successful claim against the party responsible for your accident, you need an experienced car accident attorney. The type of lawsuit you make in this situation is called a product liability lawsuit, and it requires specialized knowledge of state and federal laws regarding automotive manufacturing and sales.
Additionally, to make a successful case, you will need evidence that your car accident was the result of a mechanical malfunction that was caused by another party. An experienced mechanical malfunction car accident attorney will have the resources to conduct a full investigation into your accident to help gather such evidence.
It’s critical that you consult an attorney before accepting any money from a car manufacturer, dealer, or mechanic. These parties may offer you a settlement in exchange for you to drop your claim. While many mechanical failure accident lawsuits do end in a settlement, an attorney may be able to negotiate for a higher settlement. In some cases, an attorney might recommend that you refuse a settlement and take your lawsuit to trial.
When you accept a settlement, you will have to sign an agreement that releases the other party from any further liability. This means that you will be unable to pursue any additional compensation from the responsible party, even if your medical condition worsens or you get a surprise bill.
Why Should I Choose Law Office of William J. Luse, Inc. Accident & Injury Lawyers?
At Law Office of William J. Luse, Inc. Accident & Injury Lawyers, we are a legal team that is highly experienced in the area of mechanical malfunction car accidents, and we are ready to fight tirelessly for you. We understand the devastating impact that these accidents can have on an individual’s life, and we are passionate about helping our clients recover compensation. Law Office of William J. Luse, Inc. Accident & Injury Lawyers gives every case the unique attention it deserves, and never applies a one-size-fits-all strategy.
We understand that you may be worried about the cost of hiring a lawyer. At Law Office of William J. Luse, Inc. Accident & Injury Lawyers, we handle all mechanical malfunction car accidents on a contingency-fee basis, which means that we only get paid if you win your case. Instead of charging you hourly or weekly, we take a percentage of your overall settlement or verdict at the very end of the case. If you don’t win, then you don’t owe us any money at all.
Common Mechanical Malfunctions
Mechanical malfunction can lead to car accident injuries in two ways. The malfunction may directly cause the accident, such as a braking system malfunction that makes a driver unable to brake and results in a rear-end accident. The malfunction may also lead to injuries in an accident caused by other factors. For example, if a drunk driver hits your car and your airbags fail to deploy, both the drunk driver and the car manufacturer could potentially be held liable for your injuries.
For a car to operate safely, thousands of parts have to work together perfectly. If any of these parts are defective or were not properly maintained, their malfunction could cause a serious accident. An experienced car accident attorney will closely investigate your case to determine what caused your accident, but here are some of the common mechanical malfunctions we see at Law Office of William J. Luse, Inc. Accident & Injury Lawyers:
- Seatbelt failure
- Braking system malfunction
- Steering column problems
- Airbags that do not deploy when they should
- Airbags that deploy when they should not
- Wiring system issues which can cause car lights to turn off or cause a fire
- Shifter malfunction (for example, a moving vehicle suddenly shifting into “Park” or “Reverse”)
- Tire malfunction
Who Is Responsible for a Mechanical Malfunction?
There are multiple parties involved in vehicle production, and an error at any step along the way can cause a mechanical malfunction when you are driving. These are some of the parties that can make mistakes that cause mechanical malfunction:
- Vehicle Designer: A poorly designed car part can cause catastrophic accidents. Car designers are held to rigorous crash-testing safety standards, but errors can and do happen.
- Parts Manufacturer: Numerous parts are manufactured for automobiles, and every single part must be designed to specifications and pass rigorous testing protocols to ensure the safety of the vehicles manufactured using those parts.
- Vehicle Manufacturer: After a car is designed, the manufacturer is responsible for producing it. Many mistakes can happen during this process. For example, faulty machinery in the factory can produce a faulty car part, or an inattentive employee can fail to properly inspect a part after production.
- Dealer/mechanic: Even if a car is perfectly designed and manufactured, it can be damaged by the dealer or mechanic in a way that results in mechanical failure. A dealer or mechanic may incorrectly install a piece of equipment or fail to make proper repairs.
What Are Common Injuries in Mechanical Malfunction Car Accidents?
Injuries resulting from mechanical malfunction car accidents range from minor to severe and can result in death. These are some common injuries that result from this type of accident:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Bruises
- Sprains and broken bones
- Whiplash
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Nerve damage
- Spinal cord damage, which can sometimes result in paralysis
It’s crucial that you seek medical attention following your car accident. Even if your injuries seem minor, oftentimes symptoms for injuries don’t show for hours or days, and a physician can help identify any issues early on.
How Much Money Is My Case Worth?
The ultimate amount of money that you are able to recover depends on the unique circumstances of your accident. In most mechanical malfunction accident lawsuits, accident victims are eligible to seek compensation for two kinds of damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are your actual expenses, which often include medical bills, vehicle repairs, and lost wages, if your accident caused injuries that prevented you from working. Your medical bills might include emergency room visits, surgeries, hospital stays, ICU stays, specialist visits, physical therapy, and transportation to doctor’s visits.
Again, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after your accident. You also need to carefully follow your doctor’s medical advice and attend any follow-up medical appointments. If you don’t, the opposing party may try to claim that you exacerbated your injuries or that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
We also recommend keeping good records of any bills, invoices, or charges that you receive related to your accident. If you don’t have these documents, your lawyer will help you obtain and organize them.
Non-economic damages include the pain, suffering, and emotional distress that you have suffered as a result of your accident. While no amount of money can heal all wounds or eliminate the trauma of your accident, compensation can help make you more comfortable and ease financial stress while you recover.
It can be complicated to assign a dollar value to non-economic damages, as pain and suffering are subjective. There are a few different metrics that can be used to estimate your amount of compensation for non-economic damages. One of those metrics is assigning your injuries a number from 1 to 5, in which 1 is the least severe and 5 is more severe. That number is then multiplied by the total amount of your economic damages.
Consider this example: John suffered an accident in which his brakes suddenly failed and broke both of his legs. His medical bills totaled $50,000. If his injuries are considered a “4”, then his amount of non-economic damage would be $200,000.
Non-economic damage amounts are not always determined by this metric, but it can help you have a rough estimate of the amount to which you might be eligible.
Wrongful Death
If your loved one tragically died as a result of a mechanical malfunction accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Usually, the immediate family (spouse, child, parent) of the deceased is eligible to file such a lawsuit. You may be able to receive compensation for the following damages:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Your loved one’s future income/lost wages, especially if you relied on them for financial support
- Your loved one’s medical bills
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium (loss of benefits of relationship with loved one)
We understand that the idea of bringing a lawsuit might feel overwhelming in the midst of grief and loss. We pledge to do everything possible to make your case as efficient, seamless, and stress-free for you as possible.
Contact a Mechanical Malfunction Car Accident Attorney
Mechanical malfunction car accidents can be physically, financially, and emotionally devastating. At Law Office of William J. Luse, Inc. Accident & Injury Lawyers, our car accident attorneys use every legal tool available to fight for our clients and help them recover compensation. We know how difficult the aftermath of a car accident can be, and we will be there every step of the way through your legal process.
To schedule your consultation, give us a call today at (843) 839-4795.
