How Vehicle Recalls and Defects Contribute to Car Accidents

If you’ve ever looked into car accident trends in the United States, you are already well aware that over 90% of accidents are the result of driver error. After all, drivers are the final line of defense on the road—when everything else goes wrong, they are expected to take evasive action and prevent a crash. However, there are still a considerable number of accidents in Manassas that are the result of unsafe vehicles. When a vehicle is defective, it’s a ticking time bomb; at some point, the flaw will become an issue, and you can only hope that you aren’t on the road at that time.

Have you been injured in a crash caused by a defective vehicle? If so, it’s time to talk to the personal injury team at Olmstead & Olmstead. Give us a call at 703-260-8752 to set up a time to meet now.

Common Defects That Lead to Collisions

While vehicles can fail in hundreds of ways, most crashes come down to a handful of common issues that we see again and again. Commonly reported defects include:

• Faulty brakes

• Problems with the electrical system

• Tire and wheel problems

• Seatbelt issues

• Fuel tank

• Ignition concerns
• Steering problems

Each of these flaws manifests in different ways, making every crash different. For example, if your brakes fail while you’re driving, you’re likely to cause a rear-end accident or a single-vehicle crash if you hit a stationary object. Electrical system issues can cause random parts of the vehicle to fail or even lead to an electrical fire. Tire and wheel issues can cause your car to break down mid-drive, putting you at risk of being hit by someone behind you or spinning out. Regardless of which part of your vehicle malfunctions during a crash, it is crucial to get it checked out to find out if it played a role in your collision.

Recalls and Their Role in Accidents

Vehicle recalls are very common. In 2022, over 30.8 million vehicles were recalled due to 934 safety recalls. Despite this, far fewer vehicles actually end up back at the dealership to get their needed fixes or repairs. People may think that the repairs are unimportant or plan on addressing them at a later time. Many people never receive the recall notices that companies are legally required to send out; they don’t know that there’s an inherent problem with their vehicle until that problem causes a collision.

When they bring their vehicle in for a post-accident inspection and repair estimate, that is when they find out that they should have brought it in for repairs months earlier.

Keeping Your Information Updated

It’s important to stay on top of vehicle recalls and address any recalled components as quickly as possible. Legally, manufacturers are required to either repair the component in question, replace it, or issue a refund for it.

The main way manufacturers send out recall notices is by physical mailings. They may also send out e-mail recall notices. Any time you move or change your contact information, you should contact the dealership for your vehicle’s brand and update the contact information for your VIN. This is true even if you did not buy the vehicle at the dealership or you bought it secondhand from a private seller. If you don’t update this information, vehicle recall notices will be sent to the former owner—and odds are good they won’t think to forward those notices on to you.

Your Legal Options

If you are injured in a collision caused by a defective vehicle part, you may be able to seek compensation from either the other driver or the manufacturer. If the other driver caused the issue by failing to maintain or inspect the vehicle, they could be liable for your losses. If the vehicle was inherently unsafe, the manufacturer may be to blame.

Start Your Car Accident Claim with Olmstead & Olmstead

Your next step should be setting up a consultation with a car accident attorney in Manassas. We’ll help you learn more about the personal injury claim process, assess the strength of your case, and give you our professional advice. Schedule your consultation now by calling us at 703-260-8752 or getting in touch online.