Consumers in the United States work hard for their money. Outside of purchasing a home, buying a motor vehicle tends to be one of the most significant purchases U.S residents make. In almost all cases, they have to purchase their new cars on credit. Considering what a financial commitment it is, they tend to expect their new cars to be in proper working condition and not pose a threat to their safety.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. As car manufacturers build vehicles to be more and more complex, there are more and more opportunities for something to be wrong or defective with a vehicle. Sometimes, these defects cause consumers devastating injuries — even death.
Fortunately, consumer product laws allow U.S. residents to hold vehicle manufacturers financially liable for the injuries and deaths that defective motor vehicles cause. In order to prevail in a lawsuit like this, injured parties need to prove all of the following:
- An unreasonably dangerous defect related to the automobile injured or killed someone.
- The injury or death happened while the vehicle was in use in its intended way.
- The vehicle was still in its original or stock condition. In other words, no alterations to the vehicle were involved or related to the injurious incident.
The loss of life or injuries that result from a motor vehicle accident are always unfortunate no matter the circumstances. If you or your loved one suffered vehicle-related injuries or death, the law could be on your side. Investigate your legal options to determine what can be done to bring justice to your situation.