The car that was supposed to protect you failed.

Defective Vehicles & Auto Parts Can Turn a Crash Into a Catastrophe

You trust your vehicle to respond when you need it most. The brakes should stop the car. The tires should stay intact. Your seat belt and airbags should protect you during a collision. When one of those systems fails, a dangerous situation can become devastating.

Sometimes a defective vehicle causes the crash itself. Other times, a safety defect makes injuries much worse than they should have been. At Joumana Law, we investigate what happened, what failed, and who may be responsible.

What Is a Defective Vehicle or Auto Part Claim?

A defective vehicle claim may arise when a vehicle or component contributes to an injury or death. These cases can involve problems with a product’s design, manufacturing, warnings, or other aspects of its production. Michigan law defines a product liability action broadly. It can include claims involving the design, manufacture, assembly, testing, warnings, or labeling of a product. Michigan law also establishes specific requirements and defenses for product liability cases.

A vehicle defect case may involve:

• A dangerous vehicle design
• A defect introduced during manufacturing
• A defective component made by a separate supplier
• Inadequate warnings or instructions
• A safety system that does not perform as intended
• A defect that causes a collision
• A defect that increases injuries during a collision

Under Michigan law, the facts surrounding the specific product matter. The law also addresses issues such as product alteration, misuse, and liability involving non-manufacturer sellers. A recall can provide useful information, but recall status is not the entire investigation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, maintains information about recalls, complaints, investigations, and manufacturer communications.

Auto Defects That Can Cause or Worsen Serious Injuries

Modern vehicles contain thousands of components and increasingly complex electronic systems. A failure in one critical system can have serious consequences. Some defects contribute directly to crashes. Others involve systems designed to protect occupants after a collision begins.

Airbags

Airbags are intended to supplement seat belts and help protect occupants during certain crashes. NHTSA explains that airbags are designed to work with seat belts, not replace them. Potential airbag problems can involve:

An airbag that does not deploy is not automatically defective. Airbags are designed to deploy under particular crash conditions. A proper investigation examines the collision and the airbag system before reaching conclusions. NHTSA has also overseen major airbag recalls. Its Takata recall information illustrates how a defective safety component can affect millions of vehicles.

Seat Belts

A seat belt is one of a vehicle’s most important occupant-protection systems. Drivers and passengers depend on it to restrain them during a crash. Potential defects can involve:

A seat belt failure may not cause the initial collision. It could, however, affect how an occupant moves during impact and the injuries that follow.

Brakes

Drivers expect their vehicles to stop when they press the brake pedal. A failure within the braking system can leave little time to react. Potential problems may involve:

Brake problems require careful investigation. Poor maintenance, prior repairs, road conditions, and driver conduct may also affect what happened.

Tires

A tire failure at highway speed can cause a driver to lose control within seconds. SUVs, trucks, and other vehicles may face additional dangers if instability leads to a rollover. Potential tire defects can include:

Not every blowout means the tire was defective. Tire age, inflation, damage, maintenance, and road hazards may also be relevant. NHTSA allows consumers to search safety information for tires and other vehicle equipment. Its database also includes recalls, investigations, complaints, and manufacturer communications.

Steering

A driver cannot avoid danger if the vehicle does not respond correctly to steering input. Sudden steering problems can be especially dangerous at higher speeds. Potential issues may involve:

Determining why steering was lost may require examination of both mechanical and electronic evidence.

Roof Crush

A rollover can place enormous forces on a vehicle’s structure. The roof and occupant compartment play important roles in protecting the people inside. A suspected roof defect may become relevant when the roof significantly deforms during a rollover. Investigators may examine the vehicle’s structure and the circumstances of the crash.

Roof-crush cases can involve catastrophic injuries, including:

The condition of the vehicle after a rollover can provide important evidence. Preserving that vehicle may be critical.

Fuel Systems

Fuel systems must contain and transport fuel while vehicles operate under demanding conditions. Damage or failure can create an additional danger after a collision. Potential issues can involve:

A post-crash fire does not automatically establish a fuel-system defect. Investigators may need to determine where the fire began and why it spread.

Vehicle Fires

Vehicle fires can cause devastating burns and other injuries. They can also destroy evidence that may explain the original failure. Depending on the vehicle, investigators may consider:

Electric and hybrid vehicles can present different technical questions from gasoline-powered vehicles. The cause of a fire should be evaluated using evidence from the specific vehicle and incident.

Child Car Seats

Parents depend on child restraint systems to protect their children. A defective seat or component can have devastating consequences during a crash. Potential issues may involve:

NHTSA maintains recall information for child car seats and other vehicle equipment. Consumers can also report suspected safety problems to the agency. A child’s restraint should be preserved after a serious crash when a defect is suspected. Its condition may become important evidence.

Driver-Assistance Technology

Today’s vehicles can include technology designed to help drivers detect and respond to hazards. These systems can add another layer of complexity to a crash investigation. Driver-assistance systems may include:

A collision involving driver-assistance technology does not automatically mean the technology malfunctioned. These systems have different capabilities and limitations. Investigators may need to examine vehicle data, software information, sensors, warnings, and driver actions. The exact technology installed in the vehicle also matters.

Sometimes the Defect Causes the Crash. Sometimes It Makes the Injuries Worse.

One of the most important questions is how the suspected defect affected the accident. A defect may cause the initial collision, or it may increase the harm afterward. Consider two very different situations. A steering component fails, causing a driver to lose control. In another crash, another driver causes the collision, but an occupant-protection system allegedly fails.

Other examples may include:

• A tire separates and the vehicle loses stability.
• A braking problem prevents the vehicle from stopping as expected.
• A seat belt allegedly fails during impact.
• An airbag allegedly malfunctions during a qualifying crash.
• A vehicle rolls over and its structure becomes part of the investigation.
• A post-collision fire causes additional injuries.

This distinction can affect how the case is investigated. It can also affect which companies and insurance policies become relevant. The first explanation for a crash is not always the complete explanation. A detailed investigation may reveal issues that were not visible at the scene.

Who May Be Responsible for a Defective Vehicle or Part?

Vehicle manufacturing involves complex supply chains. One company may build the vehicle while other companies produce important components. Depending on the facts and applicable law, an investigation may examine the conduct of:

• Vehicle manufacturers
• Component manufacturers
• Other companies involved with the product
• Sellers in circumstances recognized by Michigan law
• Other parties whose conduct contributed to the injury

Michigan law contains specific rules governing manufacturers and sellers. For example, MCL 600.2947 limits when a non-manufacturer seller can be liable. That is why these cases should not be reduced to a simple question of who sold the vehicle. The specific defect and each company’s role matter.

A serious collision can also involve multiple legal claims. Another driver’s negligence and a suspected vehicle defect can potentially raise different liability questions.

How Do You Prove an Automotive Defect Caused an Injury?

A damaged vehicle can tell a story. The challenge is preserving and interpreting the evidence before that story disappears. Depending on the case, useful evidence may include:

Michigan product liability law can require detailed proof. For certain production-defect claims, state law addresses whether the product was reasonably safe when it left the defendant’s control. It also addresses whether a practical and technically feasible alternative production practice existed.

Compliance with government safety standards can also matter. Michigan law provides a rebuttable presumption concerning liability in certain circumstances involving relevant safety standards. These requirements make evidence especially important. A conclusion about a defect should be based on facts, not assumptions.

Does a Recall Prove My Vehicle Was Defective?

Not necessarily. A recall can be important evidence, but it does not automatically establish liability in an individual injury case. NHTSA says a safety recall occurs when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines there is an unreasonable safety risk. A recall can also occur when equipment fails to meet minimum safety standards.

The agency’s recall database covers:

You can search using a vehicle identification number, or VIN. NHTSA cautions that its VIN results have limitations. For example, certain recently announced recalls may not immediately identify every affected VIN. That means both recall information and case-specific evidence deserve attention.

Do Not Let Critical Evidence Disappear

After a serious crash, you may want the damaged vehicle gone. Seeing it can be painful, and an insurer or storage facility may want it moved quickly. But if a defect is suspected, the vehicle may contain evidence that cannot be recreated later. Its components, electronic systems, damage patterns, and safety equipment may become important.

Before a potentially defective vehicle is destroyed, salvaged, or substantially altered, consider speaking with an attorney. A lawyer can evaluate whether steps should be taken to preserve potential evidence. Other information worth preserving may include:

Do not attempt to dismantle or test a suspected defective component yourself. Technical examination may require qualified professionals and controlled procedures.

Injuries Caused by Defective Vehicles Can Change a Life

A defective safety system can turn seconds into years of consequences. Serious injuries affect far more than a person’s next medical appointment. Defective vehicle cases may involve:

The consequences can reach every part of someone’s life. An injured person may lose income while facing rehabilitation, surgeries, and ongoing medical care. Family members may suddenly become caregivers. A person who was independent before the crash may need help with basic daily activities.

Those losses deserve to be understood as part of the whole picture.

What Compensation May Be Available?

Compensation depends on the circumstances, applicable law, available insurance, and the losses caused by the injury. No lawyer can responsibly determine the value of a case from the type of defect alone. Depending on the claim, recoverable damages may address losses such as:

Fatal accidents raise additional issues. When a defective vehicle or component contributes to a death, surviving family members may have rights under Michigan law. The nature and amount of available compensation vary from case to case. A legal evaluation should examine the specific injuries, evidence, defendants, and applicable laws.

Michigan Defective Vehicle Claims Can Involve More Than Auto Insurance

Michigan drivers often associate an accident claim with Michigan’s No-Fault system. A defective vehicle case can add a separate product liability issue to an already complicated situation. Michigan’s Department of Insurance and Financial Services explains that Personal Injury Protection is part of Michigan’s mandatory auto insurance system. PIP can provide benefits for qualifying medical care, recovery, and rehabilitation, subject to the person’s selected coverage and applicable law.

A product liability claim asks different questions. It may focus on the vehicle, a component, its manufacturer, and whether the product contributed to the injury. That means a serious accident could involve several issues at once, including:

Deadlines may also apply. Waiting can make a case harder to investigate, especially if physical evidence disappears. Every case is different. Speak with a lawyer to understand your rights.

How Joumana Law Investigates Defective Vehicle Cases

Defective vehicle cases can demand more than reading a crash report. The investigation may need to look inside the vehicle and beyond the collision itself. Depending on the circumstances, an investigation may involve:

• Preserving the vehicle
• Identifying suspected components
• Reviewing photographs and crash evidence
• Examining repair and maintenance history
• Researching recalls and safety information
• Reviewing relevant vehicle data
• Identifying manufacturers and suppliers
• Consulting qualified experts when appropriate
• Evaluating how the alleged defect relates to the injuries
• Identifying potentially responsible parties

At Joumana Law, our focus is the injured person. We also understand that accountability can have an impact beyond a single case. Joumana Kayrouz’s philosophy of personal injury law centers on both compensation and prevention. When dangerous systems fail, litigation can expose problems and encourage safer practices.

That principle matters in defective product cases. A vehicle manufacturer controls decisions that an ordinary driver cannot inspect before every trip. You trusted the product. If that trust was broken and you were seriously injured, the reason deserves a careful investigation.

A Vehicle Built to Protect You Should Not Become the Danger

You should be able to trust the systems designed to keep you and your family safe. You should not have to wonder whether a tire, airbag, seat belt, brake, or other component made a terrible crash worse. When that question exists, it deserves a serious investigation.

At Joumana Law, we believe accountability matters. We look beyond the surface to understand what happened and why. If a defective vehicle or auto part contributed to devastating injuries, the companies responsible should be held accountable when the law and evidence support it.

If Something Failed, We Will Look Deeper

If something about your crash does not make sense, do not ignore that concern. The damaged vehicle may contain evidence that helps explain what happened. Contacting a lawyer promptly can help protect evidence and determine whether a defective product should be investigated.

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Legal Disclaimer

Every case is different. This page provides general educational information and is not legal advice. The existence, value and legal viability of any claim depend on the particular facts, applicable law, insurance coverage and jurisdiction. Listing a case type does not mean Joumana Law will accept or directly handle every matter. Depending on the circumstances, location and legal issues involved, the firm may work with qualified co-counsel or refer a matter to another attorney. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Speak with a lawyer about your individual rights and any deadlines that may apply.