A California auto defect attorney at Bisnar Chase can help you determine whether your car has a dangerous part that has caused injuries or death.
- Seasoned trial lawyers familiar with all California courts
- Over 46 years of experience in injury law
- Expertise and financial resources to fight
- Maximize financial revenue by creating solid cases
- Over $900M in settlements and jury verdicts
Not every personal injury lawyer specializes in or has extensive experience in defective auto cases, especially those caused by severe defects like sudden unintended acceleration and seat-back failure.
These auto product liability cases can cause severe and catastrophic injuries that change a person or family forever. Our California motor vehicle defect lawyers have taken on significant cases and won hundreds of millions for our clients. Contact us today for a free consultation to determine if you have an auto product liability claim. The advice is free, and the outcome may be priceless.
For a free consultation with a California auto defect law firm near you, call 800-561-4887. We offer a contingency fee basis, so there is no fee if we don’t win. We also shield you from liability by requesting medical liens from your medical providers to give you breathing room until the case settles.
California Auto Defect Lawyer
Some of Our Auto Defect Cases Won by Bisnar Chase
These are just some of the cases our legal team has won on behalf of our clients. These case results range from seatback failures and door-latch defects to roof crush and rollover injuries. Much investigation and preparation go into winning complex auto product liability cases.
- $24,744,764+ Seatback failure
- $14,443,205 Seatback failure
- $15,000,000+ Seatback defect
- $13,000,000+ Rollover defect
- $10,000,000 Roof crush defect
- $5,000,000 Defective airbag
- $5,000,000 Defective airbag
- $5,300,000 Seatback failure
- $3,700,000 Tire failure
- $3,5000,000 Defective door latch
Top-Rated Auto Defect Attorneys in California
It is important to remember that automakers are large corporations that have high-powered legal defense teams at their beck and call. Anyone who intends to fight these corporations cannot and should not do it alone.
You need a renowned California auto defect attorney who will fight for your rights at every turn if you or a loved one has suffered harm due to a dangerous vehicle defect or defective auto part.
You need a law firm with the motivation and resources to conduct independent investigations and testing. You also need a strong team of defective and dangerous product lawyers who are on a mission to hold wrongdoers accountable and make the world a safer place for consumers.
Brian Chase is a national automobile defect expert. He’s been trying these cases for decades and understands the industry’s workings.
Even cases with contributory negligence can be won, and Brian is the attorney other law firms turn to, to win these cases. Brian is also the author of two auto defect books uncovering the dark side of the auto industry.
Auto Defect Litigation
Auto defect litigation for the plaintiff involves filing a personal injury claim against the car company when a defect in the vehicle causes the accident. To successfully litigate an auto defect case, the plaintiff must establish a sufficient causal connection between the defendant and the defect.
The legal basis for an auto defect claim is based on strict liability, meaning that negligence does not need to be shown for the plaintiff to succeed. Additionally, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the manufacturer and incentivize them to fix any inherent defects in their vehicle design.
How Much Do Auto Defect Lawyers Charge?
An auto defect lawyer follows the same tort laws as a personal injury attorney, and in California, the current rates are 33–42% of what the attorney recovers for the client. Attorney fees are not paid upfront and only come out of the proceeds upon settlement.
In addition, Bisnar Chase shields you from financial burden by offering a contingency fee-based structure where you only pay if we win the case. Our trial attorneys are very motivated to win your case because we want justice for you and auto defect cases are very expensive to litigate.
How Long Does It Take to Settle an Auto Defect Case?
It will depend on the details of your case and its complexity. Auto defect lawsuits require a lot of resources, including experts, investigators, a reconstruction of the part failure, and many other legal costs.
The case can take anywhere from 6 months to several years. While we will work hard to expedite your case, there is no way to control potential stalls from the defense team, court availability if it goes to trial, or the time it takes to process all the evidence.
Do you Handle Auto Defect Cases in Other States Besides California?
Yes, our law firm takes on various defective and dangerous parts cases nationwide. We’ve also worked on cases in the U.K. going up against large auto manufacturers like Mercedes.
Because most auto defect cases will have multiple victims, these cases are seen in all states. Some auto defect lawsuits can be pursued as an individual case, a class action, or a mass tort.
Who is Liable For a Defective Auto Part?
Several parties can be held liable for an injury due to an auto defect.
- Manufacturers
- Shippers (If negligence damaged the car part)
- Wholesalers
- Car dealers
- Car part retailers
How is an Auto Defect Case Different From a Lemon Law Case?
An car defect case is usually related to product liability and concerns vehicles with manufacturing or design flaws that could compromise safety or reduce the vehicle’s usefulness, worth, or safety.
These cases can be based on flaws that result in accidents or injuries and can be brought forward at any time when a vehicle defect directly causes damage or injury. The main emphasis is on the flaw and the harm it causes, not how often it has been repaired or how long the problem has persisted.
A lemon law case, on the other hand, explicitly addresses new motor vehicles that are under warranty and have persistent problems that the dealer or manufacturer cannot fix after a reasonable number of attempts.
Contact a California car defect attorney today to discuss your accident. Call 800-561-4887.
America's Top Auto Defect Trial Attorneys 2024
“I went to law school knowing I wanted to be a personal injury attorney. I wanted my life’s work to have a positive impact on other people’s lives. We have to hold big corporations responsible. It’s the right thing to do.”
Some of Brian’s Legal Honors:
- 2020-2023 Daily Journal Top Plaintiff Attorney
- 2024 Million Dollar Advocate
- 2024 Top 10 National Trial Lawyer High Stakes Litigator
- Prestigious Member of the $500M Club
- 2018-2024 Lawyer of the Year
- 2017-2024 Nation’s Premiere Top Ten Attorneys by NAOPIA
- 2017-2024 America’s Top 100 Attorneys
- 2018-2024 Top 1% by the Natl. Assoc. of Distinguished Counsel
Nationwide Automobile Defect Statistics
Automakers have recalled over 250 million cars in the past two decades for potentially fatal defects that could cause serious injuries or death at any time.
Anyone hurt as a result of an automotive defect like this deserves compensation from the car manufacturer who allowed the defect that caused their injuries to remain in their cars.
In 2023, there were numerous auto recalls, including those by Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Honda, and Tesla.
- Ford issued 54 recalls, affecting nearly 5.7 million vehicles in the U.S.
- Honda and Ford issued even more recalls. Some recalls included airbag problems, door-related issues, fuel pump shutdown, axle failure, and cabin door unlocking during a crash.
2015–2020 was a big year for recalls. Takata airbags had the largest recall in history. Automakers recalled as many vehicles as they sold in 2012 and 2015.
There have been several extensive recalls for motor vehicles in the United States:
- In January 2019, Ford recalled more than 953,000 vehicles due to a problem with the door latch, which could cause the door to open unexpectedly while the vehicle was in motion.
- In July 2019, Toyota recalled more than 3.4 million vehicles due to a problem with the airbag inflator, which could rupture and cause injury to passengers.
Recent auto defect recalls and injuries
Millions more vehicles have not been recalled despite having defective parts. As vehicles are being recalled in larger numbers due to various manufacturing defects and design flaws, it is essential that consumers are aware of vehicle safety and defective auto recalls.
That said, automakers have a duty of care to consumers to manufacture safe and reliable vehicles. Unfortunately, we have seen evidence for decades that automakers, sometimes deliberately, disregard that duty and recklessly endanger the lives of millions of people who buy their vehicles and make them profitable as corporations.
Learn how to report a vehicle defect or malfunction and how to take legal action. If you still have questions about a qualifying case, contact our California auto defect attorneys for a free consultation.
Examples of Defective Auto Parts
Devastating injuries can occur whenever an auto part fails to work correctly and a vehicle malfunctions. Automakers must put their vehicles through rigorous testing before putting them on the market.
But, often, automakers put profits before consumer safety. As a result, they install substandard parts in the vehicle to boost profits.
The quality of the auto parts and safety features in a vehicle significantly affect its crashworthiness—the ability of a vehicle to protect its occupants in the event of a crash.
Vehicle manufacturing defects that cause car accidents and spur recalls include:
Tires:
A tire blowout can be extremely dangerous, while tread separation can also be catastrophic. When a defective tire undergoes tread separation at freeway speeds, the vehicle may veer out of control or rollover. In such cases, it may be difficult, even for an experienced driver, to regain control of the vehicle.
Seat belts:
Whenever a driver or passenger is ejected from a vehicle or suffers serious injury, it must be determined if they were wearing a defective seat belt that failed to work correctly.
Car seats:
When an infant or booster seat is defective, there is the potential for injuries to young children.
Seatback Injuries:
A flimsy or defective seatback may collapse and cause the occupant to get thrown around. This often results in catastrophic injuries.
Brakes:
It is extremely dangerous to operate a vehicle that does not have properly working brakes.
Electrical system failure:
A fuel system defect in a motor vehicle is a problem with one or more components of the vehicle’s fuel system, which is responsible for delivering fuel to the engine. Some common fuel system defects include faulty fuel pumps, fuel lines, or fuel injectors, which can prevent the engine from getting the fuel it needs to operate correctly.
The dangers of fuel system defects in motor vehicles can include reduced engine performance, loss of power, and increased fuel consumption. In severe cases, a fuel system defect can cause the vehicle to stall or even catch fire, putting the driver and passengers at risk of injury or death.
Accelerator pedals:
There have been many recalls lately involving accelerator pedals that stick and remain depressed, causing sudden or unintended acceleration.
Airbags:
A defective airbag can either fail to protect the driver during an accident or suddenly inflate and cause serious injuries to vehicle occupants.
Vehicle rollovers:
Defective vehicle design could increase the propensity of vehicle rollovers. For example, 15-passenger vans and older-model SUVs are particularly prone to rolling over because of their top-heavy design.
Roof crush:
Vehicles that rollover are meant to have strong roofs to resist the car’s weight so that the passengers inside are kept safe. When roofs fail, it can result in major injuries or death.
Door latch:
When a defective door latch malfunctions, it could cause the door to fly open, leaving occupants exposed or trapping them inside the vehicle. Either can be deadly in an accident.
It is important for all California motorists to stay abreast of recalls and investigations. When there have been a number of similar complaints about a specific vehicle or part, the manufacturer may have to conduct an investigation.
In some cases, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will conduct an independent investigation and an engineering analysis. If the investigation determines that the auto part is defective, a recall will be initiated.
The most common vehicle manufacturing defects in the US.
Here is a list of common automotive defects in the United States for motor vehicles:
- Brake failure
- Accelerator pedal sticking
- Engine stalling
- Transmission failure
- Defective fuel systems
- Tire separation
- Faulty airbags
- Defective seat belts
- Steering failure
- Suspension problems
- Tire/wheel defects
- Rollover risk
- Defective windshield wipers
- Cooling system failure
- Car fires
These defects can result in serious accidents and injuries caused by various factors, including design flaws, manufacturing defects, and inadequate testing. If you believe your vehicle has a defect, it’s essential to report it to the manufacturer and seek legal advice from an experienced auto defect lawyer in California.
What Makes a Car Part Defective?
A defective product fails to execute the task it was designed to perform. There are many reasons why an auto part can become defective.
Some parts have a defective design that makes them susceptible to breaking or malfunctioning. Parts that are poorly designed can fail even when they are assembled correctly.
In other cases, auto parts are poorly built. Manufacturing defects typically involve a limited number of parts built at a specific plant for a short period of time when the required specifications are not followed.
Let our dangerous products experts see if you have a case. The California auto defect lawyers at Bisnar Chase have unlimited resources to represent your injury claim.
Proving That a Car Part is Defective
It is vital to your case that your vehicle is preserved for a complete and thorough inspection. Resist the temptation to repair or get rid of your car.
The vehicle is the most crucial evidence in an automotive defect case. When preserved in its original state, an expert can thoroughly analyze the vehicle for defects, malfunctions, and other evidence.
To have a successful auto defect claim against an auto manufacturer, you will have to prove that:
- The auto part was defective in some way.
- That the faulty product resulted in the accident and or injuries.
- You suffered physical, financial, or emotional loss as a result of the defect.
How does Bisnar Chase establish liability for auto defects?
Accident reconstruction specialists: In complex cases or when conflicting witness statements exist, our accident reconstruction specialists recreate accident scenes and ascertain the cause of collisions. Using the testimonies of these accident reconstruction experts helps establish guilt.
Utilizing automotive engineers: Bisnar Chase collaborates with automotive engineers to evaluate vehicles and detect defects in critical components, such as tires, brakes, airbags, seatback failure, and steering systems, that could have resulted in accidents.
Forensic examination: They conduct forensic examinations of accident scenes and vehicles to determine the cause and process of accidents. This encompasses the assessment of physical evidence and data from vehicle black boxes.
Expert testimony: The firm employs expert witnesses to provide professional opinions on technical aspects of cases, thereby assisting in explaining complex issues to juries comprehensibly. Our experts conduct comprehensive vehicle inspections to identify potential defects that may have contributed to your accident.
Analysis of manufacturer records: To establish evidence of known defects, our experts examine vehicle manufacturers’ records for recalls, prior litigation, and complaints regarding comparable issues. This is vital in proving a history of a dangerous or defective auto part.
Extensive vehicle Testing: In certain instances, they conduct tests to simulate accident conditions, utilizing the precise vehicles involved when feasible. Experts develop visual demonstrations and reconstructions to assist juries in comprehending accident sequences.
If you believe your injury resulted from a defective car part, contact our top-rated California auto defect attorneys for a free consultation and to review your evidence.
Finding the Right Auto Defects Attorney
With over 46 Years of Experience, we have collected over $900 Million, established a 99% success rate, and have the resources to take on challenging cases.
Senior partner Brian Chase specializes in serious car defect cases, as does his team of trial lawyers. We can pursue your case with experience and passion. With over 12,000 clients served and hundreds of millions in victories, Bisnar Chase is ready to fight for you.
We’ve helped some pretty special people with serious defective auto cases. Jaklin Romine received $24.7 million for her defective driver’s seat case. Following his collision with a drunk driver, Felipe Rojas received a sizable confidential settlement for a seatbelt failure.
If you need an attorney to take your case to another level, please consider Bisnar Chase. See all case results. Contact us today for a free case evaluation of your California auto defect claim. Call 1-800-561-4887.
