Vehicle Defects

Our skilled California car defect lawyers have more than 40 years’ experience in defective vehicle litigation. As accomplished accident lawyers, we boast a record of success in securing financial compensation for any client injured in a car accident caused by a defect in the vehicle. Neale & Fhima has collected more than $50 million for injured clients. Our car defect attorneys will not stop until we have obtained justice for you or your loved ones.

Did you know the average cost of a new car or truck these days is more than $33,000? With that sort of serious financial commitment, California consumers should demand that their vehicles be safely designed and produced. Sadly, plenty of poorly designed and manufactured vehicles come off the assembly line each year.

If you or a family member has been injured in an accident caused by a defective car or truck, you may have a legal remedy.  Our truck accident lawyer and auto defect attorneys work tirelessly to hold manufacturers and dealerships accountable when they sell malfunctioning vehicles that cause someone to get hurt or killed.  You deserve to be protected. Call us at (888) 407-2955 for a free initial consultation about your case. We’re here to help you.

Why Do I Need a California Car Defect Attorney?

Different lawyers have different specialties. Just as you would not go to a heart doctor for a back problem, you don’t want to go to a tax attorney for an auto defect problem.  You want to make sure that the lawyer you choose is highly skilled and experienced in auto defect litigation. The attorneys at Neale & Fhima have a successful track record for securing financial settlements and winning legal cases on behalf of clients who had the misfortune of purchasing a defective vehicle. You have rights, and we are here to protect those rights. Auto manufacturers and dealerships should not get away with selling defective products to consumers.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Car Defect Attorney?

Auto defect and product liability attorneys often work on a contingency basis, which means that they don’t get paid until you get paid. Attorney fees and expenses are paid out of financial settlements and jury awards at the end of the process. If for some reason your case is not successful, then you owe us nothing. Other law firms may have different fee structures depending on a variety of factors, including complexity of the case and hours involved.  To confidentially discuss fees in greater detail, give us a call at (888) 407-2955.

Who Is Responsible for Defective Vehicles?

When faulty design and manufacturing create vehicle defects that cause dangerous accidents or otherwise jeopardize the safety of drivers, California courts have established that consumers have the right to seek compensation for their personal injuries and other damages. In most personal injury cases, it is possible to hold one or more of the following parties accountable for damages from vehicle defects:

• The vehicle manufacturer
• The manufacturer of a defective part
• The dealer that sold the vehicle.

Vehicle Manufacturer

For decades, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has used the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act to hold auto manufacturers accountable for the safety of their vehicles. The Act also has been used as legal backing for ordering recalls of vehicles that are defective and do not adhere to minimum safety standards.

The Act has been responsible for the recall of 390 million cars, trucks and SUVs; 46 million tires; and 66 million other pieces of vehicle equipment. Even with regular recalls, accidents still happen from vehicle defects that were unknown. Sometimes vehicle manufacturers and dealers conceal defects that lead to consumer harm.

Defective Part Manufacturer

Automobiles in the 21^st century are complex machines. There are many manufacturers involved in the production of a vehicle today. Each vendor or part producer in the supply chain may have some degree of liability if a defective part causes a car accident. According to data from NHTSA, the most common vehicle defects that lead to accidents are often reasons people consult a car accident lawyer:

• Steering system breakdown that leads to loss of control
• Fuel system component leakage and fire
• Accelerator control sticks
• Defective engine cooling fan
• Air bags that deploy unexpectedly, do not deploy, or deploy with too much force; the Takata airbag recall has involved more than 37 million vehicles.
• Wiring system defects leading to fire or loss of lighting.

How Can a California auto Defect Lawyer Help Me?

Big multi-national auto manufacturers have legions of lawyers whose job it is to defend the company against consumer lawsuits and minimize any financial compensation paid.  You don’t want to go up against a massive corporation all by yourself. A skilled and aggressive California car defect attorney can stand beside you and fight for your rights. It takes an experienced lawyer to win against these corporate attorneys, and that’s what we do at Neale & Fhima. Call us today at (888) 407-2955.

What Is the Outcome in a Vehicle Defect Case?

Typically these cases wind up in one of two ways – either a financial settlement or a courtroom trial.  As the plaintiff, it will be your decision which way you want to go.

Settlement – This happens when the defendant (auto manufacturer, dealership, parts supplier, etc.) decides to offer a plaintiff a lump sum of money rather than continuing to trial. They are willing to do this because sometimes it’s cheaper to settle than it is to continue to spend time and money defending against a lawsuit.

Trial – This happens when no settlement agreement is reached or wanted and the case proceeds to a jury trial before a judge. Your auto defects attorney will call on witnesses, evidence and legal precedents to prove your case in court. If the defendant is found guilty, then the jury will award money to you for damages, injury and pain and suffering.

How Much Money Can I Expect from My Car Defect Case?

Financial compensation varies greatly from case to case depending on the nature of the auto defect and whether a driver and passengers were injured or, in some cases, killed.  Generally, the more severe the injury or loss of life, the greater the financial compensation. That being said, it is not unusual for these financial awards to range in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Liability and Vehicle Defect Arguments

You may file a product liability auto accident lawsuit if a defective vehicle part caused you damage or injury. This can be done under one or more theories of liability:

• Breach of warranty: Can include an implied or express guarantee
• Negligence: Manufacturer or dealer did not exercise ‘reasonable care’
• Strict liability: The product was defective and that led to injury
• Misrepresentation or fraud: Intentional concealment of danger, or deceptive marketing.

Each of the above theories of liability can be the legal basis to seek compensation from the manufacturer or dealer for a defective vehicle part. To ensure you will receive the maximum award from your personal injury lawsuit, it is important to retain an experienced personal injury attorney in southern California.

Speak to a California Car Defect Lawyer Today

If you were involved in a car accident caused by a defect in the vehicle, you can suffer serious injuries such as head trauma, broken bones, internal injuries and cuts and bruises. You may be entitled to compensation for your hefty medical bills, lost work time, rehabilitation, job retraining and pain and suffering. For a complimentary free consultation about your auto accident case, please contact the California auto defect attorneys at Neale & Fhima today. Call us at (888) 407-2955.