Truck and Trailer Recall Injuries

After a truck accident that causes severe injuries, more than one person may be liable for the injuries. The truck driver may be partially or fully to blame. After a truck accident, it is crucial to investigate and look at all the possible angles when deciding whether or not to bring a lawsuit. There may be truck or trailer defects that caused or contributed to the accident that caused your injuries.

Truck manufacturers have a legal obligation to issue recalls when enough evidence demonstrates that their truck defects caused or contributed to an accident. Lawsuits involving a defective truck and trailer accidents can quickly become complex. Proving that a faulty truck or trailer caused your accident requires a skilled, experienced attorney. If you suspect that a defective truck or trailer part may have contributed to the truck accident that injured you, Arnold & Smith, PLLC, is here to help. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.

In recent years, recalls have involved truck tires, airbags, and car seats. These recalls have made the national news. Unfortunately, in many cases, people are injured before companies are notified that products are defective. In one example, dangerous Takata airbags were defective, causing hundreds of people to become injured. These airbags caused at least 16 deaths in the United States. A product recall typically occurs when a government agency or manufacturer realizes that a product is not safe to use. There are four main steps to the truck recall process including:

• A government agency or the manufacturer of the truck identifies a defective product
• The government agency investigates to determine if the product fails to meet minimum safety standards
• The agency or company publicly announces a recall and notifies the vehicle owners
• The company repairs the defect, replaces the defective part, or reimburses the vehicle owner for the vehicle or the defective part.

If a defective airbag, tire, engine system, or other truck part caused your crash, you may be entitled to compensation through a product liability lawsuit. Manufacturers of trucks and truck parts have a legal obligation to ensure that their product is reasonably safe for consumers. In North Carolina, victims of truck accidents can bring a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer, parts manufacturer, distribution center, and/or retailer of the defective truck. Truck and parts manufacturers are typically the focus of many product liability lawsuits. Vehicle and parts manufacturers have a legal duty to do all of the following:

• Identify manufacturing and design flaws with their products
• Notify vehicle owners of potential dangers through a recall
• Provide adequate information to consumers to keep them safe

When truck parts and manufacturers fail to comply with these duties, victims who become injured due to defective parts may be compensated for their injuries. Truck manufacturers are not the only people who may be financially liable for your injuries. Under North Carolina product liability laws, you may also have a claim against the truck dealership that sold you the truck, the distributor, and the retailer. Anyone along the supply chain that failed to use reasonable care when selling you a vehicle may be liable for your injuries. If you are not sure whom you can bring a lawsuit against, the best thing you can do is discuss your case with an experienced attorney.

Sometimes, people assume that if there was a recall of the part that caused their accident, they are automatically entitled to compensation. A recall of the parts that contributed to your accident is a valuable piece of evidence that you can use in your favor. However, multiple factors can impact the value and strength of your product liability claim. An experienced attorney can help you investigate whether the owner received notification of the recall and whether they tried to comply with the recall, both of which are essential factors.

Have you been injured due to a recalled truck or trailer part causing an accident? If so, we recommend contacting one of the experienced truck accident attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC. Our law firm has the resources and experience necessary to carefully review your case and advocate aggressively for your rights. Contact our Charlotte law firm today to schedule your initial consultation to learn more about our legal services.