What Kinds of Mechanical Car Issues Can Affect Your Claim?

Driver error is often the main cause of car accidents, but they aren’t the only possible cause. Mechanical issues with one of the involved cars can also come into play. In these cases, you might believe that another driver caused your injuries, only to find out that they did everything they could to prevent or stop the crash from occurring. If there was a serious problem with their car, the crash might have ultimately been out of their control. For anyone injured in the collision, this brings up a question regarding who is at fault and, therefore, liable.

Six types of mechanical car issues that can affect your claim

When a person gets behind the wheel of a vehicle, they trust that the vehicle will safely get them to their destination. However, even new, modern cars can experience mechanical issues, which have the potential to cause injuries and fatalities in car accidents. Here are six types of mechanical car issues that can arise and affect your claim:

1. Brake issues: Brakes are clearly one of the most important parts of a car when it comes to avoiding crashes. When brake issues occur, the driver may be unable to stop or slow down, causing them to slam into the back of the vehicle in front of them. According to a crash causation survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), brakes were listed as the reason for 22 percent of car accidents. Brakes usually experience issues with low brake fluid, problems with the antilock brake system, or the brake pads or discs that are worn out.
2. Wheel or tire problems: Wheel or tire problems can cause traumatic and devastating accidents, especially when the vehicle travels at high speeds or in inclement weather. The NHTSA survey lists wheel or tire problems as the reason for 35 percent of crashes. The most common type of wheel or tire problem that vehicles frequently experience is blowouts. This usually happens when the tire has too much air, not enough air, or is old and worn out. When a blowout occurs, the driver may lose control of the vehicle, run off the road, or veer into a lane with oncoming traffic.
3. Light issues: Even though lights on a vehicle may seem small compared to the rest of the vehicle, they actually have a big role. For example, when it is dark outside, snowing, or even raining, your headlights can help you see as well as help others see you. In addition, when you need to switch lanes or stop or slow down, your taillights inform the driver behind you. Therefore, when your vehicle has a broken or burned-out light, it can increase your risk of being involved in a rear-end, sideswipe, or even a head-on collision.
4. Steering defects: Steering defects are another common mechanical car issue. When a driver is experiencing steering problems, they are likely to lose control of their vehicle. The NHTSA survey states that steering accounts for 3 percent of accidents. This percentage may seem very low, but the truth is that accidents caused by steering defects are underreported, as it is difficult to identify steering wheel problems after a crash. There are many reasons why a steering wheel may be defective, such as the manufacturer not properly assembling the steering wheel, the ball joints being defective, or issues with the steering relays.
5. Engine failure: One of the worst problems that a driver can experience is engine failure. When this happens, the engine may stop working abruptly, leaving your vehicle in the middle of the roadway and leading to an accident. Engine failure typically happens when a vehicle has a coolant leak, a defective cooling fan, no oil, faulty spark plugs, a defective catalytic converter, electrical problems, poor ignition timing, and more.
6. Windshield wiper malfunctions: Windshield wipers help keep the windshield clear when it is raining, snowing, or sleeting. Therefore, when a driver’s windshield wipers malfunction, it can affect their ability to see, causing a severe and dangerous crash.

Can a driver be liable for a mechanical car issue that caused an accident?

If you find out that a mechanical car issue caused or contributed to your accident, you may be curious to know who you should hold liable and file a claim against. Even though drivers can still be found liable, you must show proof that they acted negligently in some way and that behavior caused your accident.

To hold them liable for a mechanical car issue, you would need to show that they knew about the mechanical issue and failed to repair or maintain their vehicle. Additionally, if you can show that the manufacturer of the vehicle issued a recall on the defective part or that the driver failed to take their vehicle in for routine inspections, you may be able to hold them liable for the mechanical issue that caused your accident. Other parties that can be found liable for mechanical car issues that cause accidents include:

• Auto mechanic or repair shop: If the vehicle owner took their vehicle to an auto mechanic or repair shop to inspect, maintain, and make necessary repairs, the auto mechanic or repair shop could be found liable for the accident. In this case, you would need to find evidence that the auto mechanic or repair shop failed to make repairs or conduct an inspection. Alternatively, you could show that they made a mistake when working on the vehicle, which caused your accident and injuries.
• Manufacturer or designer: The manufacturer or designer of the vehicle or its parts could also be found liable for a mechanical car issue that caused an accident. For example, a manufacturer or designer may have used a faulty part on the vehicle. If a part was faulty, the manufacturer might be legally responsible for any crashes that occur as a result.
• Car owner or a leasing/rental company: If a person is borrowing a vehicle from a friend or renting or leasing a vehicle, the owner or leasing/rental company can be held liable for any accidents. The reason for this is that the owner of the vehicle or the leasing/rental company is responsible for ensuring the inspection, repair, and maintenance of the vehicle before the individual uses it. Therefore, they can be considered liable if anything is wrong with the vehicle that results in an accident.
• The dealership: If a driver involved in the crash recently purchased their defective vehicle, the dealership could be accountable. This is because dealerships are responsible for checking that all parts are in good working order before they allow a customer to get behind the wheel and drive the car off the lot.

If you or a family member suffered injuries in a car accident because of mechanical issues, you may be able to file a claim for damages resulting from the car accident. The car accident lawyers at Glisson Law have over three decades of experience handling complex cases like this, and we are ready to help you determine who is at fault and should be held accountable for their negligence. Please call our office or submit our contact form to schedule a free case evaluation at our office today. We are based in Alton and proudly serve Belleville, Edwardsville, Springfield, St. Clair and Madison Counties, all of Southwestern Illinois and Missouri.