Design Defects

Car accidents can occur due to a multitude of reasons, most of which involve the negligent acts of another party. Often we think it is a careless driver who causes a collision and resulting injuries, but sometimes these accidents are due to a defective car part or vehicle. When a car or vehicle part manufacturer allows a dangerous product to be sold, that manufacturer should be held accountable for the harm caused. Miami car accident attorney Robert Dixon and his staff at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon offer compassionate and seasoned legal representation for those injured by defective vehicles. Many times, it is not immediately apparent that a car’s part or the car itself had a role in causing an accident. As such, a careful and detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding a collision is often necessary. Mr. Dixon works with top professionals in the field to make sure this investigation is done properly and thoroughly. Our firm assists clients throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, as well as elsewhere South Florida, with personal injury and wrongful death claims arising out of motor vehicle accidents. If you have questions about your legal rights and options following a serious car collision, please contact our office today to set up a free consultation with a lawyer and learn more about our services.

Design defects refer to a flaw in a product’s overall design, versus a manufacturing defect whereby only one product is defective in a line of otherwise non-dangerous items. This flaw is inherent to the product’s blueprint and renders it hazardous and unsafe to users. Defective products that can cause injuries in car accidents can include faulty brakes, airbags that do not deploy properly, as well as tires that are unsafe. To hold a manufacturer accountable for injuries caused by a design defect, a victim must show that a product’s design was unreasonably dangerous before it was manufactured, and that such danger was evident based on its ordinary use, or a foreseeable use. It must also be shown that the manufacturer had the ability to use a safer design without exponential costs incurred. In personal injury or wrongful death cases stemming from an injury due to a design defect, a victim must also show that the defective part caused the accident. For instance, it must be shown that it wasn’t another driver’s negligence, but rather a faulty tire, that led to the collision.

Manufacturers are strictly liable for injuries caused by a design defect, meaning that a manufacturer is liable for the harm caused by a defective product it releases to the market, regardless of any actions it took. Damages available to victims injured in a car accident caused by defectively designed products or vehicles include property loss, past and future medical expenses, diminished earning capacity, loss of income, and pain and suffering. In the event that one of these defects caused a fatality, families may also receive compensation for burial expenses, funeral costs, and loss of support. Having a strong legal advocate on your side in these instances can be important, especially when you are up against a large corporation with vast resources.

Car accidents can cause devastating harm, such as spinal cord damage, broken bones, and traumatic brain injury. When a manufacturer is responsible for such harm by allowing a defectively designed part or vehicle to be released to consumers, it should be held accountable for the financial impact these injuries have on victims, as well as their families. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our lawyers are available to help residents of Miami, and West Palm Beach, as well as others throughout South Florida, pursue claims against manufacturers of defective products. We understand the emotional toll car accidents take on the victims, and are dedicated to providing the full legal support they need to navigate through a lawsuit. If you have been injured, or lost a loved one, due to a car accident you believe was caused by a design flaw, please call our office at 877.499.4878 or contact us online to schedule a free, no obligation consultation to find out more about how we can help.