Most car accidents are caused by driver negligence, but that’s not always the full picture. Sometimes, the vehicle itself is the problem instead. For example, a brake system that stops working without warning on the highway can cause a serious crash even when the driver does everything right. In these situations, the company that manufactured the defective part may owe you compensation under Illinois’s product liability law.
Continue reading to learn from our Chicago car accident lawyers how these cases work and what you can do if a vehicle defect caused your accident.
How Illinois Product Liability Law Applies to Vehicle Defects
Illinois applies a strict liability standard to product liability claims in Chicago. This means you don’t have to prove the manufacturer was careless. Instead, you just need to show that the vehicle or part was defective when it left the manufacturer’s control and that the defect caused your injuries.
Illinois law recognizes three types of product defects:
- Design defects exist when the vehicle’s design is inherently unsafe
- Manufacturing defects occur when an error during production causes a specific vehicle to deviate from the intended design
- Marketing defects involve a failure to provide adequate warnings about known risks associated with the product
Any of these can serve as the basis for a claim after a car accident caused by a vehicle defect.
Common Vehicle Defects That Cause Accidents
Defective vehicle components can lead to crashes in situations where the driver did nothing wrong. Some of the most common defects involved in these cases include:
- Faulty brake systems
- Defective tires prone to blowouts
- Airbags that fail to deploy
- Malfunctioning steering systems
- Defective ignition switches
- Poorly designed fuel systems that increase fire risk in a crash
- Seatbelt failures
In some cases, the defect directly causes the accident. In others, the defect doesn’t cause the crash but makes the resulting injuries far worse than they should have been. Both scenarios can give rise to a product liability claim.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Defective Vehicle Car Accident Claim?
Under Illinois law, liability in these cases can extend across the entire chain of distribution. You aren’t limited to suing the vehicle manufacturer. Depending on the facts, you may also have a claim against the company that sold you the vehicle, among other parties, such as a distributor.
You also don’t have to be the original purchaser to file a claim. If you were injured by a defective vehicle as a driver, passenger, or even a bystander, you may still have a valid case worth pursuing.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Illinois Car Accident Attorney
If you suspect a vehicle defect played a role in your car accident in Illinois, it’s important to speak with an attorney who understands the state’s product liability laws. These cases require a different legal approach than a standard car accident claim, and they often involve large manufacturers with aggressive legal teams on their side.
Meyers & Flowers can help you level the playing field and pursue maximum compensation. Call (630) 576-9696Â today for a free consultation.