Who is liable if a death was caused by a defective auto part can depend on why the part was defective.
In these cases, there are multiple parties that could be involved, including the vehicle or parts manufacturer, the distributor, a repair shop, or another party whose unsafe product or negligent work caused the fatal crash.
If your loved one died in a crash that may have involved a defective auto part, contact a wrongful death lawyer for help.
What Makes a Claim Different When the Fatality Was Caused by a Defective Auto Part?
When a death was caused by a defective auto part, the claim is different from a standard car accident claim because the legal focus is not limited to driver conduct.
You may need to prove that a vehicle component was defectively designed, defectively manufactured, improperly installed, poorly repaired, or sold without proper warnings, and that the defect caused the crash or made the injuries fatal.
A defective part can cause the collision itself, or it can affect the driver’s ability to operate the car in a safe manner, which could cause the driver to crash.
Who Can Be Held Liable If a Defective Auto Part Caused a Death in a Car Accident?
If a defective auto part was the cause of someone dying in a car accident, more than one party could be liable. The answer depends on what caused the defect and whether anyone later failed to repair, replace, recall, inspect, or warn about the part.
Vehicle Manufacturer
A vehicle manufacturer may be liable if the car, truck, SUV, motorcycle, or commercial vehicle was sold with an unsafe design or defective system. This may include safety systems, braking systems, steering systems, electrical systems, fuel systems, crashworthiness features, or vehicle software.
Parts Manufacturer
A parts manufacturer may be liable if it made the defective component that caused or worsened the fatal crash. That can include tires, airbags, brakes, seat belts, sensors, suspension parts, batteries, ignition components, or replacement parts.
Dealership, Distributor, or Retailer
A dealership, distributor, or retailer may be brought into the claim if it sold, supplied, or placed the defective part or vehicle into the stream of commerce. The law that applies will decide whether that seller can be held liable and under what theory.
Repair Shop or Mechanic
A repair shop or mechanic may be liable if unsafe repair work caused the failure. This may include installing the wrong part, failing to secure a part, ignoring a visible defect, missing a recall-related repair, or returning a vehicle to the road in an unsafe condition.
Another Driver or Company
A defective part claim may also involve a negligent driver, employer, rental company, trucking company, rideshare company, or fleet owner. A fatal crash may have more than one cause, and each responsible party should be reviewed.
What Makes an Auto Part Legally Defective?
An auto part may be legally defective when it is unsafe because of its design, manufacture, warnings, instructions, or installation. The part does not have to be visibly broken at first glance.
Design Defect
A design defect means the part or system was unsafe even when made according to the intended design. This can involve engineering choices, materials, crash performance, system layout, or failure to include a safer, feasible design.
Manufacturing Defect
A manufacturing defect means something went wrong during production, assembly, or quality control. The design may have been acceptable, but the specific part installed in the vehicle was flawed.
Warning or Instruction Defect
A warning defect may exist when the manufacturer or seller failed to give proper safety information. This can include missing warnings, unclear instructions, delayed recall notices, or failure to warn about known hazards.
Negligent Repair or Installation
A repair-related defect may exist when a mechanic, shop, dealer, or installer used the wrong part, installed it incorrectly, skipped an inspection, or failed to correct a known safety issue.
Can More Than One Party Share Fault?
Yes. Liability can be shared in a fatal accident caused by a defective auto part.
For example, the manufacturer may have sold the unsafe part, and the dealer could have failed to complete a recall repair. In this case, the manufacturer and the dealer could both be held responsible.
Shared fault can affect:
- Which defendants are named.
- Which insurance policies may apply.
- How responsibility is divided.
- Whether one defendant blames another.
- Whether product liability and negligence claims are both available.
- How settlement discussions are handled.
What Damages Are Available After a Death Caused by a Defective Auto Part?
Wrongful death damages depend on state law and the relationship between the deceased person and surviving family members. A related survival action may also be available if your loved one lived for any period after the crash.
Depending on the case, damages could include:
- Funeral and burial costs.
- Final medical expenses.
- Lost income and financial support.
- Loss of household services.
- Loss of care, companionship, guidance, and support.
- Property damage.
- Losses suffered by the deceased person before death, where allowed.
- Punitive damages, where the facts and law support them.
The value of the case depends on proof of both liability and loss. Product cases can also involve corporate conduct, prior complaints, recall history, and internal safety decisions that may affect damages.
Talk to Sweet James About Liability for Death Caused by a Defective Auto Part
Liability for a death caused by a defective auto part is often challenging to determine without a legal investigation.
At Sweet James, our legal team can thoroughly investigate the defect, identify every liable party, and fight back when manufacturers or insurers try to shift blame away from themselves. With over 25 years of experience helping accident victims and their families, we are prepared to fight for you.
Real Lawyers. Real Results. Contact us today for a free consultation.
