How Auto Manufacturers and Defective Vehicles Contribute to Fatal Crashes in California
When people think about fatal car accidents, they often assume driver error is the sole cause. Speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, and reckless behavior certainly play major roles in many crashes. However, not every fatal collision happens because a driver made a mistake. Sometimes the vehicle itself causes or contributes to the tragedy.
Modern vehicles contain thousands of components and increasingly sophisticated technology systems. A defect in a vehicle’s design, manufacturing process, or safety systems can create dangerous conditions that increase the risk of a crash or make injuries far more severe when a collision occurs. When a defective vehicle contributes to a fatal accident, surviving family members may have legal rights under California product liability law.
At Kalfayan Merjanian, LLP, we help families investigate whether an auto manufacturer or another company in the chain of production may bear responsibility for a fatal crash. If so, we dedicate our resources and years of experience toward obtaining justice, accountability, and compensation for the harm done.
How Vehicle Defects Can Cause Fatal Accidents
Drivers rely on their vehicles to operate safely under normal and foreseeable conditions. When a critical system fails unexpectedly, a driver may have little or no opportunity to avoid a collision. Some defects directly contribute to the cause of a crash, while others increase the severity of injuries after an impact occurs. A collision that might otherwise have resulted in survivable injuries can become fatal because a safety feature failed to perform properly.
Examples of defects commonly alleged in fatal crash litigation include:
- Brake system failures
- Tire defects and tread separation
- Steering system failures
- Defective airbags
- Seat belt failures
- Fuel system defects that increase fire risks
- Electronic system malfunctions causing engine stall, unintended acceleration, and other mistakes
- Defects involving autonomous or driver-assistance technologies
As vehicles become more technologically advanced, software and electronic failures are becoming increasingly important issues in product liability litigation.
The Three Main Types of Product Defects
Product liability claims generally fall into one of three categories of defects. Understanding these categories helps explain how manufacturers may be held responsible.
A design defect exists when the product itself is inherently unsafe, even if manufactured correctly. For example, a vehicle design that makes a rollover accident more likely could potentially create a design defect claim.
A manufacturing defect occurs when mistakes happen during production or assembly. A single component may be improperly made, installed incorrectly, or contain faulty materials.
A failure-to-warn defect involves inadequate instructions or warnings about known dangers associated with the vehicle or its systems. Manufacturers may have a duty to alert consumers to risks or limitations that are not obvious.
Defective Safety Systems Can Turn Survivable Crashes Into Fatal Ones
Many product liability cases involving fatal accidents do not focus on what caused the initial collision. Instead, they involve what is known as a “crashworthiness” claim. Crashworthiness refers to a vehicle’s ability to protect occupants during an accident. Even if another driver caused the collision, manufacturers may still bear responsibility if a defect increased the severity of the injuries. Under this theory, the claim is not necessarily that the defect caused the collision itself, but rather that the defect made the outcome substantially worse. Examples include situations where airbags fail to deploy during a serious collision, seat belts unlatch or malfunction during impact, vehicle roofs collapse during rollover accidents, or defective doors open unexpectedly during a crash.
Vehicle Recalls and Their Role in Fatal Accident Cases
Vehicle recalls sometimes become important evidence in product liability litigation. Manufacturers may identify problems after crashes occur, through consumer complaints, internal testing, warranty claims, or government investigations. In some situations, evidence may show that a manufacturer knew or should have known about a dangerous issue long before corrective action was taken. A recall may indicate that a manufacturer discovered a safety problem affecting a vehicle model or component. However, a recall does not automatically establish legal liability. Similarly, the absence of a recall does not mean a defect did not exist.
Multiple Parties May Be Responsible
Fatal accident cases caused by defective vehicles often involve more than one responsible party. Liability may extend beyond the vehicle manufacturer itself. Other potential defendants can include, for example, parts manufacturers, component suppliers, vehicle distributors, or even dealerships in certain circumstances. In some cases, another negligent driver and the manufacturer may both share responsibility for the fatal accident. When multiple parties are responsible, families may have options when seeking to hold those responsible accountable for their failures.
Evidence in Fatal Vehicle Defect Cases
Product liability claims involving fatal crashes are often highly technical and evidence-intensive. Investigators may need to determine not only how the collision occurred, but whether a defect contributed to the outcome.
Important evidence may include:
- The vehicle itself and damaged components
- Event data recorder information (“black box” data)
- Recall notices and technical service bulletins
- Engineering analyses and testing records
- Accident reconstruction findings
- Expert evaluations involving vehicle design and performance
Preserving the vehicle can be critically important. Repairs, salvage disposal, or destruction of evidence can make proving a defect significantly more difficult.
Wrongful Death Claims Following Fatal Vehicle Defects
When a defective vehicle contributes to a fatal crash, surviving family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim under California law. Depending on the circumstances, damages may include compensation for loss of financial support, funeral and burial expenses, loss of companionship and guidance, and loss of household services and support. Separate survival claims may also arise in some situations, allowing for a fuller recovery by pursuing damages for harm suffered by the decedent before death.
Why Product Liability Cases Are Often Complex
Manufacturers and large corporations frequently defend product liability cases aggressively. These cases may involve extensive engineering analysis, internal corporate records, and highly technical evidence. Manufacturers often argue that the crash resulted entirely from driver conduct, road conditions, or improper vehicle maintenance rather than a defect. Because of these challenges, early investigation is often essential. Preserving vehicles, obtaining records, and retaining appropriate experts can make a substantial difference in the strength of a claim.
How Kalfayan Merjanian, LLP Helps Families Pursue Accountability
At Kalfayan Merjanian, LLP, we understand that fatal accident cases involving defective vehicles involve more than identifying what happened at the scene of a crash. Determining whether a vehicle defect contributed to a death often requires detailed investigation and careful analysis of complex evidence. Our firm works with engineers, accident reconstruction professionals, and other experts to identify responsible parties and pursue accountability for families affected by preventable tragedies.
If you lost a loved one in a fatal accident and suspect a vehicle defect may have played a role, contact Kalfayan Merjanian, LLP to discuss your legal options and learn how we can help protect your family’s rights.
