LaPlace Auto Defect Attorneys

Fighting to Recover Compensation for Victims Injured by Auto Defects in LaPlace, LA

When you purchase and operate a vehicle, you expect it to work as intended. You certainly do not imagine a scenario where you lose control of your car due to some sort of flaw or get into an accident where key safety features fail when you need them most. The tragic reality is that critical auto defects affect millions of vehicles annually, and, even if the discovery of an issue triggers a recall, you may not know about the problem until it is too late.

At Potts Law Firm, we are prepared to help you seek just compensation when you suffer injuries due to any kind of auto defect. With over 250 years of combined experience and over $1 billion recovered for our clients, our LaPlace auto defect lawyers understand how to effectively navigate these cases and hold negligent parties accountable. We will investigate your accident, ascertain liability, and walk you through all available legal options, including what types of damages we may be able to help you secure. Our team is committed to your case and will do everything in our power to deliver the best possible outcome.

You owe our firm nothing unless we win, so contact us online or call (985) 236-0573 to schedule a free initial consultation today. Same-day appointments are available, and we offer services in English and Spanish.

How Dangerous Auto Defects Happen in Louisiana

Like any dangerous product, auto defects tend to develop during the design or manufacturing of a vehicle. In some cases, the inherent design of a vehicle will eventually be proven to be unsafe, especially if cheaper or less reliable materials and methods are used. When there is a design defect, all vehicles of a particular make and model will be flawed and dangerous. In cases where a vehicle’s design is sound, defects may still arise when the car or truck is being assembled. Manufacturing issues will only impact the specific vehicles that were subject to the error or problem.

But why do these design and manufacturing problems occur, especially when these processes are overseen by professional automakers? The answer often comes down to money. Automakers will sometimes look to cut corners and reduce expenses by picking less costly (but potentially problematic) designs. They may also rush the manufacturing of vehicles to meet unrealistic quotas, consequently increasing the likelihood of human or machine error.

Put more simply, dangerous auto defects are frequently the result of an automaker putting profits ahead of consumer safety. They are rarely isolated, random, or unpreventable events. The party or parties responsible for an auto defect can be held legally accountable when the vehicle’s flaw directly results in injury.

Our LaPlace auto defect attorneys can represent you in claims involving:

• Airbag and Seatbelt Failures
• Broken Seatbacks
• Door Latch and Hood Latch Failures
• Ignition Defects and Loss of Power
• Roof Collapse and Crashworthiness Issues
• Steering and Handling Defects
• Tire Defects
• Vehicle Fires and Fuel System Defects

Who Is Liable for Auto Defect Injuries in Louisiana?

When you get into a serious accident because of an auto defect, you are generally aware the incident was not your fault. However, you may not know who is responsible for compensating you for injuries, medical expenses, and other damages.

Participants in the automaking process, including manufacturers and distributors, have a duty to act with a reasonable level of care when designing, producing, and delivering their products. They are expected by regulators to implement dependable, reasonably safe components and keep up with industry safety advancements. They must also proactively warn consumers about how to safely use their vehicles and alert them to any potential risks. When defects do become apparent, automakers must take steps to warn other consumers about the issue and prevent additional consequences through a recall.

Automakers sometimes do not honor their duty to consumers or adequately warn them about known risks, and these violations can lead to tragic outcomes. They may not exercise an acceptable level of care when designing, testing, or manufacturing their vehicles, and they may drag their feet or look for any excuse not to issue an expensive, embarrassing recall. While these sorts of careless or reckless actions are sometimes difficult to establish in court, you fortunately do not need to prove negligence to win a product liability case in Louisiana.

Determining who precisely is liable will often require an investigation, which Potts Law Firm can help facilitate. Ultimately, liability will typically depend on the nature of the flaw and how the defect came to exist. Depending on the circumstances of the defect, one or more of the following parties may be liable for damages in Louisiana:

• The vehicle manufacturer
• The manufacturer of a defective vehicle component
• The vehicle distribution company
• A mechanic or auto shop that created a defect through negligent repairs
• A car dealer or dealership who sold you a defective vehicle or defective vehicle component

If you were involved in an accident that may have been the result of an auto defect, you have very limited time to act, so do not hesitate to call (985) 236-0573 or contact us online.