Car accidents happen every day on Pittsburgh roads. Most accidents are due to a driver’s carelessness. In these cases, another person who is injured may be able to hold the negligent driver liable for his or her injuries. However, in some cases, an accident may not be entirely the fault of any driver.
Some accidents are caused by a defect within the automobile. For instance, even a perfectly careful driver may collide with another car if his or her car’s brakes are defective. In these cases, the injured party may seek compensation through a legal theory known as product liability.
There are three main categories of product liability: A product can be defective in its design, manufacture or marketing. One of the most commonly litigated categories is defective design. For example, if a car’s design places the gas tank so close to its rear bumper that a common rear-end accident causes an explosion, a court may find the design is unreasonably dangerous, and therefore the automobile company that designed the car may be held liable for injuries that resulted from the defective design.
Pursuing a product liability claim can be crucial to the injured and their families as they cope with medical expenses, lost wages and other damages that go along with the aftermath of an accident. These claims can also be important ways to hold parties accountable when they put unsafe products into the marketplace. However, product liability cases can be highly complicated, and they require ordinary people to fight for the compensation they deserve from large corporations, insurance companies and other powerful interests. It is important for the injured and their families to seek out help from a skilled attorney.