A Los Angeles auto defect lawyer like those at Bisnar Chase has represented individuals who have been severely or catastrophically injured due to vehicle defects.
Defective vehicles and faulty components, such as tires and brakes, seriously injure and kill thousands of Americans annually. Federal law requires auto manufacturers to report a safety defect within five days of learning about the defect.
Automakers have a duty and a legal responsibility to manufacture safe vehicles for consumers. When auto components or safety features in a vehicle are defective, the consumer can no longer count on the vehicle to protect him or her in the event of a crash.
- Almost $1B recovered
- 99% success rate
- Seasoned trial lawyers
- Experts in auto defects
We have represented victims who lost loved ones due to auto defects and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars. Call our experienced Los Angeles auto defect attorneys for a FREE consultation. Call 323-238-4683.
Los Angeles Auto Defect Lawyers
Top-Rated Auto Defect Lawyers in Los Angeles
We have won numerous awards for our work in plaintiff litigation. Our law firm has the financial resources and trial experience to conduct independent investigations and testing to be used in a complex auto defect case.
You need a strong team of passionate Los Angeles personal injury lawyers who have had a successful track record of holding large automakers accountable. Rather than just searching for an ‘auto defect lawyer near me’, find one with the financial resources and experience to win cases.
We are a highly successful legal team that is dedicated to making the world a safer place for consumers. If you have been seriously injured or have lost a loved one as a result of a defective motor vehicle in Los Angeles, please contact us at 323-238-4683 for a free and comprehensive consultation.
We specialize in auto defect cases
Bisnar Chase is well known throughout California for handling complex auto defect cases. We specialize in auto defects, whereas many law firms do not. To have the best chance at winning your case, hire a legal team with vast knowledge of auto defect lawsuits.
Types of Defects In Vehicles
Not all defects or malfunctions in vehicles are safety defects. Here are just a few examples of what are classified as safety defects in automobiles:
- Problems with engines, fuel systems, or fuel leaks that could potentially cause fires.
- Sticky accelerator pedals that could lead to sudden or unintended acceleration.
- Car seats or seatbacks that could fail or collapse unexpectedly during normal use or in low-impact collisions.
- Airbags that fail to deploy or deploy suddenly and unexpectedly.
- Rollover accidents when the vehicle flips over.
- Roof crush accidents, where the roof of a vehicle collapses during a crash, worsening any injuries.
- Seatbelts or seat restraint systems that fail to protect occupants in the event of a crash.
- Wheels that crack or break, resulting in loss of vehicle control.
- Steering components that fail or break causing loss of vehicle control.
- Software or electronic glitches could lead to the loss of vehicle control or safety systems deactivating.
- Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly.
- Child safety seats that contain faulty belts, buckles, or other components that could create a risk of injury or death.
- Brake failure.
- Tire blowouts due to tread separation
- Carbon monoxide leaking into passenger cabin.
How Do I Know If I Have An Auto Defect?
You know when you are experiencing an auto defect if you suddenly become unable to perform a normal task related to the vehicle that could potentially put you in a hazardous situation or inflict personal injury or wrongful death.
- Monitor performance issues
- Keep detailed records of issues
- Check the warning lights
- Check the manufacturers website for recalls or issues
- Review recalls, class actions and consumer complaints
You can visit the NHTSA website to search for recalls by entering your vehicle’s identification number (VIN). This site also allows you to look up various consumer complaints and safety issues reported by other vehicle owners.
If you find evidence that your car might have a defect, especially if it poses a safety risk, it’s important to act quickly by notifying the manufacturer and possibly the NHTSA. This not only ensures your safety but also helps in the enforcement of vehicle safety standards.
If you’re not sure if your vehicle issue qualifies, contact a Los Angeles auto defect lawyer to review your evidence.
How Complicated Are Auto Defect Cases?
Auto defect cases require intense attorney labor and aggressive negotiation. Automotive defect cases can be against large corporations that have very large amounts of money to put into their attorneys and cases.
Large automotive makers and corporations have an endless list of liabilities towards the innocent lives that put their good faith and trust into these companies, and must be held fully accountable for any defects, recalls, and negligence that is consistent with their doing, especially when it inflicts minor, severe injury, or death.
To be successful in an auto defect case you need to do the following:
- Prove the defect
- Establish the liability
- Consider the manufacturer’s financial resources
- Identify prior recall issues
- File within the 2-year statute of limitations
- Establish causation
- Use expert testimony
- Use accident reconstruction experts
An experienced Los Angeles auto defect lawyer can assess your claim to determine if you are entitled to financial compensation. Call 323-238-4683 for a free case evaluation. Tort attorneys do not charge you in advance, and if we don’t in your case, there is no fee.
Do I Have To Be Injured To Take On My Auto Defect Case?
Yes, there must be injuries present in order to pursue an L.A. auto defect case for financial compensation.
Simply Having a vehicle that falls under an auto defect recall doesn’t mean you are entitled to any money; however, you are entitled to have the vehicle fixed free of charge.
Do I Have A Timeline To Contact a California Injury Attorney?
It’s always best to contact an injury attorney as soon as possible. Time will be essential in your case, as there is a statute of limitations for filing a claim.
These time frames can vary by state, so be sure to check with an attorney. In California, the statute of limitations for a personal injury is two years, however, it’s three years for property damage.
What Should I Look For When Hiring a Serious Injury Attorney in an Auto Defect Case?
You’ll want to hire an attorney who has a lot of experience dealing with defective cars. Those can be difficult cases to pursue, and an attorney highly experienced in the area will be the best option for winning your case.
An injury attorney who doesn’t specialize in defective and dangerous products will likely not possess the type of experience required to win these tough cases.
Manufacturers have deep pockets, and companies like Ford, Toyota, etc. will fight with unlimited money to burry these cases.
Reporting Your Auto Defect to the NHTSA
If you believe that your vehicle or a vehicle part may be faulty, it is crucial that you report it to NHTSA to get the problem fixed. NHTSA often receives similar reports from other drivers about products that are defective.
This could indicate that a safety-related defect exists. In such cases, NHTSA opens an investigation.
The agency would initiate an engineering analysis if the complaints were valid and eventually ask the manufacturer to issue a recall and fix the safety issue. Filing a complaint with NHTSA, however, is an important first step.
There are several ways in which you can do this. You may call NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or 1-800-424-9393 toll-free from anywhere in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands to register complaints or receive recall information about a vehicle.
You could also report a vehicle safety issue at NHTSA’s web site, safercar.gov. Or you may send a letter to NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (NVS-210), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Manufacturing Versus Design Defect
Auto defects could occur during the design or manufacturing process. A design defect occurs when the product or a part of it is designed erroneously.
To determine if a vehicle’s design is defective, it may be necessary to look into the product’s blueprint or original design.
If it is reasonably foreseeable that the design could harm vehicle occupants, the manufacturer of the vehicle can be held liable.
Manufacturing defects occur during the assembly or the actual production of the vehicle. In such cases, plaintiffs must show that the defect was present when the vehicle was manufactured and that he or she properly used the product.
In other words, the plaintiff must show that the car accident and resulting injuries would not have occurred but for the faulty part.
Call our top-rated Los Angeles auto defect attorneys to discuss your case. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no cost if we don’t win. Call 323-238-4683.
Preserving Evidence In Your Auto Defect Case
The vehicle is the most important piece of evidence in an auto defect case. So, it is important that the vehicle that is suspected of being defective or malfunctioning is preserved unaltered so that an expert can thoroughly examine it for defects, malfunctions and design flaws.
When such evidence is misplaced, lost, or destroyed, there is very little opportunity for the plaintiff to pursue a case and hold the at-fault parties accountable.
It is also important that injured victims maintain a log of all their expenses, including medical bills, the cost of medication, rehabilitation, medical devices, lost income, and any other loss that was incurred as a result of the injury.
If we handle your case, our law firm will preserve your evidence in one of our evidence facilities. Let an auto defect lawyer in Los Angeles examine your defective car part to determine eligibility for a lawsuit.
Contact a Los Angeles Auto Defect Lawyer
If what we’ve described here sounds like you may have a case, contact our Los Angeles auto defect attorneys for free information about your rights, how to file an injury claim, and award-winning representation.
You may schedule an interview in our Los Angeles office or we will come to you if your injuries prevent travel. We have a 99% success rate and have served Los Angeles since 1978. Call 323-238-4683
