Who Could Be a Defendant in a Product Liability Claim After a Car Accident?

If you were injured in an accident and have reason to believe the accident was caused by defects in your vehicle, you would file an injury lawsuit claiming product liability on the part of the responsible party.

Here are a few examples of possible defendants in product liability claims dealing with car accidents:

• Vehicle manufacturer: The manufacturer of the vehicle is most likely to be a large company, which is a double-edged sword. While it will have more money to compensate you, it will also be able to afford greater legal power. Still, if the primary manufacturer of the vehicle is to blame, it is important to hold them accountable.
• Manufacturer of specific parts: If it is a specific part of your vehicle that was defective, then the manufacturer of that part may be liable. You may still be able to list the vehicle manufacturer as a defendant unless you purchased the defective part separately, because the vehicle manufacturer is part of the distribution chain that brought you the defective part.
• Auto shop or dealership: If you purchased a defective part from a dealership or an auto shop and that part caused your accident, you may have a claim against the auto shop or dealership where you purchased that part.
• Distributor: Any other company that is a part of the supply chain for your vehicle, including shippers or distributors, may also be considered as liable parties in your case, depending on the circumstances of the accident and the part of your vehicle that failed.

Your attorney will help you develop a strategy to hold these parties accountable for the damages you suffered. For more information about product liability cases associated with car accidents, contact an experienced auto accident lawyer at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia LLP.