Asserting Your Rights After Being Injured By Faulty Brakesfooter
Although braking systems aren’t as mechanically complex as an engine, they’re comprised of interconnected parts that translate pressure on the pedal to friction on your brake pads. Each of those components can affect your car’s braking power. Almost any failure, defect, or fault could make the difference between a near-miss and a life-altering collision.
You don’t have to take the blame for an accident that was not your fault. Read more to learn about car crashes caused by faulty brakes, or call us today to schedule your free consultation with a Rhode Island car crash lawyer.
Faulty Brakes and Car Accidents
Understanding Why Brake Systems Fail
Automobile manufacturing standards are set by the government.
Furthermore, every car bought, sold, and operated in Rhode Island must meet specific safety requirements. If your vehicle is registered in the Ocean State, you probably already know that your annual inspection tests your brakes, too.
Between federal standards and state law, brake system failures are a rare occurrence. However, collision data compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation indicates that faulty brakes are involved in a significant percentage of all crashes caused by automotive defects.
Some of the most common causes of brake system defects include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Improper brake system design
- Improper brake component design
- Errors made during the manufacturing process
- Negligent or otherwise improper installation
- Poor maintenance
In most cases, the cause or causes of your brake system defect will dictate the at-fault party in any lawsuit you might choose to file.
The Potential Defendants in a Faulty Brake System Claim
In Rhode Island, drivers who have been injured in a collision that was not their fault have a right to seek compensation from the person who caused their accident. The at-fault party, or “defendant,” is responsible for improperly designing, manufacturing, or installing the brake system.
The potential defendants in your claim could include any of the following:
- A vehicle manufacturer
- A car dealership
- An automotive parts maker
- Another driver
Since vehicle manufacturers, car dealerships, and ordinary motorists are all bound by very different sets of rules, the type of defendant named in your claim could be critical to its outcome.
The 3 Elements of a Successful Lawsuit
Every lawsuit differs in its details, but claims only win when backed by the right combination of evidence, theory, and argument. In Rhode Island, most automotive defect claims must meet the criteria established by:
- Negligence theory, which holds that a person may be liable for an accident caused by a failure to exercise a reasonable level of care in certain situations. In the context of a faulty brake claim, a mechanic could be found negligent if they did not adhere to industry standards when installing or serving your brake system.
- Product liability theory, which holds that companies are liable for injuries caused by their products. In general, companies are liable if mistakes made in a product’s design, manufacture, or warranty made the product inherently unsafe.
Negligence claims and product liability lawsuits can follow very different courses. However, most will require accident victims to prove, at minimum, the following three elements:
- Existence of a defect. You cannot recover damages for a defect-related accident if you cannot prove that your brakes were defective. Proving the existence of a defect is often easier said than done, especially if your vehicle is not brand new. This is because manufacturers and dealerships may try to blame your collision on improper maintenance or the addition of aftermarket car parts.
- Causation. The mere existence of a defective brake component or brake system is not enough to win a negligence claim or product liability lawsuit. Instead, you must be prepared to establish that the defective product was your accident's direct or proximal cause. In other words, you need to be able to show that your accident would never have happened if not for the existence of the defect.
- Damages. You can only sue if your accident caused you to sustain certain economic and noneconomic damages. Your damages could include the money you spent on hospital bills, the income you lost from work, or your emotional pain and suffering.
Unlike most other states, Rhode Island does not cap damages. If you file, fight, and win your lawsuit, you could receive as much money as you need to begin rebuilding your life. However, you can’t afford to delay. If you wait too long to contact a car crash accident lawyer, the statute of limitations could lapse, leaving you without any right to recovery.