Defective Product Lawyers:
Deadly Defective Vehicles

Serving Washington, D.C., Maryland, & Virginia

Vehicle defects can cause a fatal auto accident, or they can turn a survivable accident into a fatal accident. Some defects can cause fatal injuries in an auto accident that would not have caused any serious injuries, were it not for the defect. Any fatal car accident is devastating to surviving family members, but it is even more painful when you know that your loved one should have lived.

Seat Belts, Airbags, and Car Seats

Some of the most tragic car accident deaths are those caused by the very devices meant to protect us from injury. When safety devices are poorly designed and when they malfunction, they can be more dangerous than if they were not used at all.

Potentially fatal seat belt defects include:

• Retractor failure
• Unintentional unlatching
• Shoulder strap which sits too high
• Door mounted shoulder straps causing ejection
• Automatic shoulder straps

Airbags can cause fatal injuries when they:

• Deploy when there is no accident, causing a fatal accident
• Fail to deploy
• Deploy with too much force

Saddest of all are the defective car seat fatalities, caused by the devices that we trust to provide an extra layer of protection for our children. A defective car seat can kill a child during normal driving conditions, when there is no crash. These defects can include:

• Inadequate padding
• Shoulder straps which come loose
• Buckle failure
• Seat which separates from base
• Weak area where seat attaches to the seat belt allowing the seat to launch
• Complicated, confusing instruction manuals – leading to improper installation

Fuel-fed Fire

Survivable accidents, including those which knock victims unconscious, can quickly turn deadly when fire or explosion is added to the equation. A properly designed and properly functioning fuel system contains the fuel, even during an accident. Fuel system defects are the source of fires in auto accidents and can include:

• Design flaws
• Faulty parts
• Improper installation

Other Defects

The vehicle defects which can cause fatal accidents are innumerable. Some examples include:

• Faulty tires
• Defective ATVs
• Faulty brake systems
• Faulty steering systems
• Door latch defects
• Commercial truck underride protection defects
• Poor roof crush resistance
• Commercial truck cab guard defects
• Faulty engine lights
• Spontaneous acceleration

If you believe the death of a loved one in your family was caused by a defective vehicle in Maryland, Washington DC, or Virginia, please contact the wrongful death lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C. We will examine your case and consult with you to determine what damages may be entitled to recover at no cost to you.

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