Defective Automobiles

Birmingham, Alabama

No Vehicle is Perfect
It's inevitable that some products will suddenly malfunction or break during use. Automobiles should not fall into this category. As a society, we put a lot of faith into our vehicles. We rely on them to transport us safely and protect if an accident occurs. But no car is perfect, nor are its manufacturers.

Each year, there are about 4.2 million traffic accidents in the United States. Of these, more than 3 million people are injured and over 41,000 die. Sometimes these accidents are not caused by careless driving, but because of faulty automobiles or defective parts.

Crashworthiness
It is the automobile manufacturers' responsibility to make their vehicles "crashworthy." But often times, manufacturers will put profits ahead of customer safety, which puts passengers at risk of serious injury and death.

Manufacturing companies will issue car safety recalls to fix parts that are considered dangerous or defective. But these recalls are usually after hundreds of vehicle owners are hurt in vehicles that are not "crashworthy."

Not every accident or injury can be prevented, but if you get hurt because of a defective automobile or auto component, you have a right to collect compensation.

Some common types of automobile defects include:

Defective tires: In August of 2000, Firestone recalled more than 14 million tires because belt separation in the tire was causing blowouts. These blowouts resulted in a loss of control and in many cases, traumatic injuries and deaths. Tire tread separations are especially dangerous when they occur on SUVs, which are prone to rollovers.
SUV rollover: Because these vehicles have a higher center of gravity, they are more prone to rolling over and causing serious injuries.
Door latch failure: When a car door comes open during an accident due to latch failure, passengers can be ejected and sustain catastrophic injuries or death.
Roof crush: Weak vehicle roofs and roof pillars can collapse in a rollover accident, causing severe head and neck injuries to passengers.
Fuel-fed fires: In the aftermath of an automobile accident, fires can erupt in seconds if a fuel tank ruptures or fuel line leaks. In 2005, Ford recalled 3.8 million pickup trucks and SUVS due to engine fires.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident, and you believe an automobile defect is to blame, please contact the Birmingham personal injury lawyers at Burke, Harvey & Frankowski. Our attorneys can help you determine if you have a claim against a manufacturing company and fight to help you collect the damages you deserve. Call or e-mail us today for a free consultation.

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Alabama Rules of professional conduct require the following notice: No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services to be performed by other lawyers.

The information presented on this website for Burke, Harvey & Frankowski, LLC., should not be taken as formal legal advice including reference to Auto Accidents, Truck Accidents, Product Liability, Medical Malpractice, Motorcycle Accidents, Nursing Home Negligence, Personal Injury and/or Personal Injury Attorneys. Serving Birmingham, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. If you or a loved one have been injured, contact us to schedule a consultation with a Alabama personal injury lawyer to see if you have a claim.