Who Is Liable in Car Accidents Caused By Mechanical Failure?

Are You Legally Liable for Accidents Caused by Mechanical Failures on Your Vehicle?

When car accidents are caused by mechanical failure, a driver, vehicle manufacturer, mechanic, part supplier, or part manufacturer may be liable. The person or entity that is liable is the one who caused the accident to happen. 

A driver or other party, such as a mechanic, must act negligently in a way that contributes to the crash. For example, a vehicle manufacturer has strict liability for a car accident caused by a defective vehicle. 

There are also varying legal standards. Any driver or party with contact with the car can be liable for a car accident caused by mechanical failure. However, you may or may not be legally liable for accidents caused by mechanical failures on your vehicle. 

Suppose you are negligent in maintaining your vehicle or repairing a known defect. Then, you are legally liable for the car crash. You could also be legally responsible for failing to get your vehicle fixed if there’s a recall. 

On the other hand, suppose the mechanical failure occurs because of a failure on the part of the manufacturer to make a safe vehicle. Then, you are not at fault for the accident. As you can see, whether you are legally liable for the accident depends on the reasons for mechanical failure.

Who Can Be at Fault for a Car Accident When Mechanical Fault Occurs?

If a car accident occurs because of a mechanical fault, many parties may be to blame:

• The car manufacturer
• The manufacturer of your vehicle’s parts and components
• An auto repair shop or mechanic
• The dealership that sold or serviced the vehicle
• The driver

The Car Manufacturer

The first party that can be liable for a car accident caused by mechanical failure is the car manufacturer. Car manufacturers make a product that has the potential to be dangerous. When there are defects in a vehicle, the victims may receive compensation from the carmaker.

• Strict liability: The legal standard for the car manufacturer is strict liability. That is the highest legal standard that a party can have. The car accident victims don’t have to show how or why the carmaker made an error while building the car. A defective vehicle on the roads is enough to put the car manufacturer under strict legal liability.
• Defects: A vehicle defect might occur because a poor vehicle design affects a specific vehicle model. It might be a manufacturing defect where the car doesn’t perform as intended. A car can have a defect even if a recall has never been issued. Also, failing to provide consumers with adequate instructions to use the vehicle safely can be a form of a vehicle defect.
• Malfunctions: A malfunctioning vehicle can cause a car accident, and even the driver of the defective vehicle could be considered a victim. Anyone who gets hurt in an accident in which the car manufacturer is to blame may have a claim against the car manufacturer.
• Warranty claims: You might be able to file a warranty claim against the vehicle manufacturer, even when there is no known defect. Automakers build cars with express and implied warranties. Therefore, you could be entitled to compensation under one of these warranties. 

The victims who claim compensation must gather evidence to show how the vehicle is defective. They must also prove fault and what their damages are. You may have a car accident attorney assist you with these tasks.

A Manufacturer of Your Vehicle’s Parts and Components

Most automakers source parts and components from third parties rather than manufacturing everything needed to build the vehicle in-house. If a particular part or component is defective and caused the car crash, then the manufacturer of that part or component can be held liable for your injuries and damages. 

You may also have a claim against the car manufacturer if they were aware of the defect and chose to still use the part or component in the vehicle. Additionally, if the defective part or component was installed aftermarket, meaning you had it replaced as part of maintenance or repairs, the aftermarket manufacturer could be held negligent. 

An Auto Repair Shop That Performs Repairs or Maintenance

All auto repair shops and their mechanics must ensure repairs and maintenance are completed with reasonable skill and diligence. If they are not, and their actions result in a car accident, then the repair shop and the mechanic who worked on your vehicle could be responsible. Some common repairs or maintenance services could include:

• The improper installation of aftermarket components and parts
• Not properly repairing previous accident damage or not replacing parts and components that could fail and result in another accident
• Not balancing, rotating, and aligning the wheels correctly
• The improper replacement of tires, brakes, transmissions, engines, and other vehicle systems
• Not completing recall repairs when it is a known issue and the customer has requested the repair

The Dealership Who Sold or Serviced the Vehicle

Florida car dealerships also have a duty of care to ensure the vehicle they sell you or service is not defective or has any known mechanical issues. You could sue a car dealership in cases where:

• The defect occurred sometime during the vehicle’s chain of distribution: The chain of distribution includes when it leaves the car manufacturer until it arrives at the dealership. If a defect occurs at any point, the dealership and anyone else that caused the defect is responsible. 
• The dealership’s service or collision department did not perform maintenance and repair correctly: Like auto shops and mechanics, dealerships can be held liable for the same reasons mentioned previously
• The dealership provided its own warranty: Sometimes dealerships will provide their own written or implied warranties. When they do, you could seek damages under this warrant.

The Driver

Even a driver may be liable for a car accident when a mechanical failure causes it. Everyone operating a motor vehicle must take reasonable steps to ensure the car is in proper working condition.

Maintenance failure: If a vehicle needs routine maintenance, the driver must ensure it’s taken care of properly. When drivers notice a problem with the vehicle, they have to respond appropriately, depending on the nature of the defect. It’s possible that a driver can be liable for an accident caused by a mechanical failure when they don’t take sufficient steps to take care of their vehicle.

Comparative Negligence in Mechanical Failure Car Accident Cases

Multiple parties may be to blame for an accident involving mechanical failure. For example, the car manufacturer might have produced a defective vehicle. However, the driver may have failed to have the car fixed even after knowing there were problems. At the same time, the other driver may contribute to the accident by speeding.

Florida’s comparative negligence law will take all of these considerations into account. The law can assign a percentage of fault to each responsible party. Remember that varying standards of legal liability apply. The vehicle manufacturer has a strict liability legal standard. The standard is negligence for others.

However, these standards can still intertwine if multiple parties have engaged in wrongful conduct that caused an accident. Even if multiple parties are to blame, or you may share some fault for the accident, you may still deserve financial compensation. 

In Miami and elsewhere in Florida, you can still seek compensation for injuries and damages as long as you are 49% or less at fault. Don’t make the mistake of assuming you don’t have a favorable case. The only way to know is to consult with an experienced car accident attorney.

If You Have Been Injured in a Car Accident Due to Mechanical Failures, Let Bernstein & Maryanoff Injury Attorneys of Miami Fight for You

Were you injured in a car accident caused by mechanical failures? Find out your legal rights and who to hold responsible with help from Bernstein & Maryanoff Injury Attorneys, Injury Attorneys. Our Miami car accident attorneys provide a free case evaluation and consultation. Even if you have been offered a settlement, take the time to get a second opinion before accepting the offer. Contact us now for your free consultation.

Sources:

FLA. STAT. § 768.81. (2023).

Mechanical Malfunctions Causing Car Accidents & Potential Legal Claims. (2023).

Proving Fault and Damages in Personal Injury Lawsuits. (2023).