Colorado Motor Vehicle Defects Attorneys | Denver Truck Equipment Defects Lawyers

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Frequently Asked Questions about Motor Vehicle Defects

Q: What is "crashworthiness?"

A: Crashworthiness is the ability of a vehicle to prevent injuries to the occupants in the event of a collision.

Q: How does the fact that a driver may have caused an accident affect a crashworthiness action?

A: The doctrine of crashworthiness centers around the enhancement of injuries caused by a motor vehicle defect. The issue becomes whether the defect increased the injuries, and fault of a person injured does not prevent recovery on a crashworthiness action. The fault issue may arise when the court or jury weighs the comparative fault of the individual causing the accident with the fault of the manufacturer, so that a reduction in the amount of damages you are entitled to may result.

A used car dealer has a duty to discover and repair any obvious defects in the vehicle, or defects that are reasonably discoverable.

Truck Design Defects · Tires · Air Brakes

A significant number of truck accidents turn out to be related to defects in the design of the tractor trailer or other commercial vehicle. The Colorado motor vehicle defect attorneys of Chalat Hatten & Koupal PC are knowledgeable about product liability law and negligence claims against the manufacturers and/or trucking company in seeking compensation for truck or bus accidents.

Our personal injury firm represents trucking accident victims throughout Colorado in seeking compensation through settlement and litigation. Our experienced lawyers have been successful at showing that the accident was caused by faulty air brakes, hydraulics and pneumatics, malfunctioning lights, wheel seals, motor or transmission problems, or improper scheduled maintenance. Identifying any of these problems might have prevented the accident.

Contact the Denver truck equipment defects lawyers of Chalat Hatten & Koupal PC for a free consultation about your case.

The Denver, Colorado lawyers at Chalat Hatten & Koupal PC represent victims of all types of truck accidents, including tractor trailer collisions, rollovers, bus accidents, shuttle vehicle accidents, tour bus crashes, and RTD bus and light rail train accidents. We represent clients in Colorado Springs, the Denver Metro area and throughout the state of Colorado.

Motor Vehicle Defects - An Overview

Most motor vehicles are safely designed and carefully manufactured. Some, however, are carelessly made or improperly designed. Poorly designed or defectively produced vehicles can be dangerous and can cause serious injury or death.

Responsibility for Defective Motor Vehicles

The laws governing responsibility for defective motor vehicles and what must be proven in court to establish liability vary from state to state. In most states, the parties who may held liable include:

The vehicle manufacturer
The manufacturer of defective component parts such as tires, hoses etc.
The dealer, if the vehicle was purchased from a dealer

Several different reasons exist for holding a party liable for harm caused by a motor vehicle defect. The three most common legal theories for finding someone liable are breach of warranty, negligence, and strict liability. An experienced products liability attorney can advise you about the rules that apply in your state to your situation involving a defective motor vehicle.

The Concept of "Crashworthiness"

The most important concept in vehicle defect liability cases is "crashworthiness". Crashworthiness is the ability of a vehicle to prevent injuries to the occupants in the event of a collision. During a collision, a vehicle's occupants are subject to a number of forces that can result in injury, including rapid deceleration and rapid acceleration, depending on the direction of impact in the collision. Crashworthiness deals primarily with the 'second collision' that results from these forces, in which the driver and passengers collide against the interior of the vehicle. An effective crashworthy vehicle design will distribute these injurious forces over as great a period of time and distance as possible, including by directing them to parts of the body that are more capable of withstanding them.

Elements of a Motor Vehicle Defect Claim

Unlike an ordinary personal injury claim for negligence, in order to establish a vehicle manufacturer or seller's liability for a vehicle defect, you do not need to show that they were careless, and that their carelessness led to your accident or injury. Instead, liability in motor vehicle defect cases is controlled by the doctrine of strict liability.

Vehicle Safety & Restraint Devices

Vehicle safety is a significant consideration, both in terms of liability for injuries resulting from automobile accidents, and when the average consumer is shopping for a new car. Every new passenger vehicle must meet federal standards specifying minimum safety levels, but this doesn't mean all cars are equally safe. There still are important safety differences. Identifying the safest car on the road is impossible, but it is possible to shop for a safer car because some vehicle characteristics are inherently safer than others, and many automakers offer safety features beyond the required minimums.

Motor Vehicle Defects RECALLS

One of the most common vehicle defect issues faced by the public is that of safety recalls of a motor vehicle. Safety recalls are usually instigated by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the vehicle manufacturers themselves, in response to a discovered defect in a vehicle or a component of that vehicle. So it is important to understand the procedure that is followed in vehicle recalls, and the respective responsibilities of those involved.

Motor Vehicle Defects Resource Links

Consumer Complaints Search Engine
From the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), part of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Search for or file consumer complaints about vehicles, equipment, child safety seats, and tires.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guide for Consumers
An FTC auto guide for consumers.

The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety
Nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing losses from vehicle crashes. News and data related to vehicle safety, including testing and vehicle ratings.

Colorado Motor Vehicle Defect Attorneys