Fort Worth Defective Vehicle Claims Attorney

Fort Worth Office.

At first glance, many car accidents appear to be caused by human error. However, when a case is examined closer, it can become clear that a wreck was instead caused by a defectively designed or manufactured auto or auto part.

If you believe that you have suffered serious injury or lost a loved one in a crash caused by a defective vehicle, you should contact Tate Law Offices, P.C., without delay. If your vehicle did not perform properly, you may have the ability to bring a product liability claim against the manufacturer or distributor – particularly if severe injuries or death resulted.

We can provide the skill, experience and resources that it takes to identify and litigate automotive defect claims in Fort Worth, and other areas in Texas.

How Can Our Lawyers Help with Your Defective Vehicle Claim?

Defective vehicle claims are different from other types of auto accident cases. The reality is that they require a tremendous amount of work, and they can be very expensive to litigate. Automakers and auto parts manufacturers know what is at stake for their companies. They will vigorously challenge any claims against them.

At Tate Law Offices, P.C., our accident lawyers believe our experience with handling these claims can truly make a difference for you and your family. In particular, we can:

Move quickly to preserve evidence

We can make sure that all vehicles involved in your crash are left untouched until they have been photographed and examined. We will not let important evidence get lost or destroyed.

Consult with experts

A defective vehicle claim requires the insights of highly qualified accident reconstruction specialists, engineers and auto safety experts. In fact, many cases turn on who wins the “battle” between a crash victim’s experts and the auto company’s experts.

Aggressively litigate your case

You can expect automakers and parts manufacturers to use their extensive financial resources to challenge a product liability claim at every stage. We can rely on our own resources to aggressively challenge any efforts to put obstacles in your way and “drag out” litigation. We are passionate about protecting our clients’ rights.

Coordinate with other lawyers (if needed)

More often than not, a vehicle defect that has harmed you or a loved one has harmed many others as well in Texas and throughout the country. As a result, your case may be a part of larger, national litigation. Our law firm knows how to work with other attorneys when it comes to establishing a case. We also will ensure your unique interests are protected.

Prepare your case for trial

We know how to get cases ready for the courtroom. We focus on every detail and leave no stone unturned. We also use cutting-edge techniques such as jury consultations and state-of-the-art exhibits. We believe this approach not only allows us to present a solid case at trial, it also gives us leverage when seeking a settlement that can avoid the need for a trial.

Seek a full, timely financial recovery for you

We know how important it is for our clients to receive the funds they need to move on with their lives after a crash caused by a vehicle defect. We work hard to resolve cases as quickly as possible. At the same time, we strive for full compensation, including:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages and diminished future income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium
  • Punitive damages
  • All other related damages

For their own business purposes, automakers and vehicle parts manufacturers may agree to settle individual claims or offer affected consumers the opportunity to file a claim with a settlement fund.

At Tate Law Offices, P.C., we urge you to refrain from accepting any settlement until we have reviewed your case. You don’t want to accept a settlement for less than what your claim may be truly worth. You should also never give a statement to an insurance company without first meeting with an attorney from our firm.

What Defective Vehicle Cases Do Our Fort Worth Lawyers Handle?

Our law firm can represent clients throughout Fort Worth and Texas in a wide range of defective vehicle claims, including the following:

Vehicle Rollovers

Rollovers frequently involve trucks, SUVs and large passenger vans. Several types of defects can cause a vehicle to roll over. The most common causes are:

  • The vehicle was designed with too high of a center of gravity
  • A tire blew out due to de-tread or some other manufacturing defect
  • The vehicle lacked electronic stability control (ESC), which has been proven to dramatically decrease the chance of a vehicle rollover.

Roof Collapses

Many models of cars, trucks, and SUVs lack adequate roof strength. When the roof of a vehicle is not strong enough to resist impact, it may be crushed in too far. The driver and/or passengers can, in turn, suffer serious injuries during a vehicle rollover. Sadly, Texas vehicle occupants are often killed or rendered quadriplegic or paraplegic because of roof crush, or collapse.

Seat Belt Failures

Even though they are designed to protect drivers and their passengers, seat belts can release, unlatch or “spool out” during a car wreck. As a result, vehicle occupants may suffer a severe blow from the unlatched seat belt, or they may be ejected from the vehicle. Additionally, even though auto manufacturers have long known that a three-point seat belt is much safer than a lap belt, many cars, trucks and vans still come equipped with only a lap belt for the center passenger.

Airbag Failures

Airbags can be lifesaving when they work properly. However, defective airbags can be extremely dangerous to vehicle occupants. When airbag sensors are not calibrated properly, the airbags may not deploy during a car wreck, or the airbags may deploy too hard, leading to severe injuries or death. In other instances, vehicle drivers or passengers are injured because the vehicle’s airbags were designed to protect the chest area but not the head, or vice versa.

In particular, millions of cars have been recalled in recent years due to defective Takata airbag that can rupture and spray metal shards and shrapnel at occupants. The defect is due to a propellant inside the devices which can degrade as time passes.

Seat Failures

In some Texas car accidents, especially rear-end crashes, the seat back on a bucket seat breaks, causing the seat occupant to be violently thrown into the backseat of the car. Because the occupant is moved away from the seat belt and airbags, serious head, neck, and back injuries often result. Seat failure is also dangerous for passengers behind the defective seat, especially children. This is because the entire weight of an adult can be forcefully thrown against a backseat passenger, causing permanent injuries or death.

Tire Defects

Defects in tires may cause them to blow out, de-tread or otherwise fail to perform properly. Additionally, tires that are too old have a high failure rate. Tire manufacturers such as Firestone, Michelin, Bridgestone, BF Goodrich, Dunlop, Uniroyal, Cooper, Yokohama, Goodyear, Pirelli, Continental and Titan may produce tire that cause injury. Tire retailers such as Discount Tire, Firestone, Wal-Mart and Sears may also cause devastating vehicle wrecks due to their improper tire installation, inspection or service.

Safety Cage Intrusion

The purpose of a vehicle safety cage is to preserve the passenger compartment in order to protect the occupants if a crash or vehicle rollover occurs. Inadequate door beams, metal design and door latches can allow intrusion into or ejection from the safety cage compartment of the vehicle.

Vehicle Fires

Vehicles may explode or catch fire during an auto accident due to defects such as:

  • Placement of fuel tank within the crush zone of the vehicle
  • Failure to install anti-siphoning valves
  • Incorrect routing of fuel lines
  • Lack of fuel filler tube check valves

Glass Safety Glazing

Even though statistics show that passengers ejected from a vehicle are 25 times more likely to die than passengers who remain inside a vehicle, auto manufacturers have not used laminated safety glass on windows in many vehicles that would help prevent passenger ejections.

Defective Ignition Switches

One of the largest automotive recalls in history occurred when it was revealed that ignition switches in GM cars could suddenly switch from the “on” position to “off” position due to a defect. If this occurred, it could endanger passengers by causing the engine to abruptly shut off and disable safety features such as power steering, brakes and airbags.

Pay Attention to Automotive Recalls

In order to protect yourself and your loved ones from being involved in a crash caused by a vehicle defect, you should pay close attention to recall notices that you receive in the mail or that are otherwise announced.

One way to check for recalls is to go to the automaker’s web site or check out the NHTSA recall lookup tool. You can see if your vehicle has been recalled for any reason by typing in your vehicle identification number (VIN). You can also contact your local auto dealer.

If your vehicle has been recalled, contact Tate Law Offices, P.C., right away. We can make sure that you get your vehicle fixed while, at the same time, making sure you retain proof that you received a defective part.

Get Help Today from Our Fort Worth Defective Vehicle Attorneys

If you have suffered catastrophic injury or lost a loved one in a car accident in Fort Worth or anywhere else in Texas, contact Tate Law Offices, P.C. We can provide an immediate, free review of your case. We can also conduct a thorough investigation that looks at every potential cause of your crash, including a vehicle defect.

We will not charge you any legal fees unless we obtain a settlement or verdict for you. Call us today or submit our online form to get started.