In a surprisingly large number of cases, car accidents are not the fault of a negligent driver. They are the fault of a defective car, or a design defect, which can cause a serious personal injury or wrongful death.
We have a long history of success in auto product liability cases. In fact, during our more than two decades of practice, we have achieved victories over some major corporations, such as Ford, Honda, and Firestone.
Types of Auto Product Defects
One of the most common types of auto product defects is defective tires. Poorly designed or improperly manufactured tires are frequently the cause of car, truck, and motorcycle accidents. The party that holds the blame is the manufacturer.
At the law firm of Caddell & Chapman, we have the experience to see that these manufacturers are held accountable when a product is defective.
Of course, tires aren’t the only automotive part that can be defective. Seatbelts and other parts can also cause serious problems if defective.
In some cases, our investigation reveals that the vehicle itself is improperly designed. We frequently see this in rollover accident cases in which serious roof crush takes place because the car simply is not crashworthy, which means that the vehicle is not capable of protecting its occupants from a foreseeable and survivable accident. As one example, Caddell & Chapman prosecuted claims in Los Angeles, California against Ford Motor Company and Budget Rent A Car Systems, Inc. arising from the rollover of a 2004 Ford E350 Van. The case arose after 21 family members rented three vans and drove from California to Texas. While in West Texas, the driver of the middle van drove off of the highway, while family members in the other vans watched. Due to the instability of the van, the driver was unable to regain control of the vehicle. In the rollover event that followed the van’s windows shattered, and several of the seat belted adults were ejected through the van’s open doors and windows, and all of the van occupants were injured. The family alleged that Budget failed to follow its own protocols and to warn them of the inherent instability of the van. The family also alleged that the van was defective due to instability and Ford’s failure to protect the passengers with proper doors, windows, and seat belts. The terms of the family’s settlement were held confidential.
Also, in Hidalgo County, Texas, Caddell & Chapman developed and resolved a product liability lawsuit against General Motors pertaining to the air bag system of its 1992 Geo Metro. Plaintiffs alleged that the Metro’s air bag caused a driver’s death following a side impact collision; the air bag system was overly-aggressive. The car manufacturer insisted on the confidentially of the settlement terms.
Nationwide Representation in Auto Accident and Aviation Accident Cases
From our office in Houston, we have spent more than two decades representing accident victims throughout the United States.
Our lawyers are able to get to the heart of these matters. We can handle the most complex matters, including those in which both a negligent driver and an auto manufacturer hold some level of responsibility for the same accident. We build strong cases designed to get results, no matter what the cause of a car accident.
Caddell & Chapman also has successfully represented clients with other product defect claims. For example, the law firm was hired by clients from the Dominican Republic in claims against American Airlines and Airbus. The litigation arose from the crash of American Airlines Flight 587, which occurred on November 12, 2001 and resulted in the deaths of 265 people.
Contact us today to discuss your case with an experienced attorney.