Automotive Defect Claims

The BasicsWhat Is an Automotive Defect Claim?

An automotive defect claim is a product liability claim brought when a defective vehicle or vehicle part causes or worsens a crash and injuries. Instead of pursuing only the driver involved, this kind of claim holds the manufacturer responsible for putting a dangerous product on the road. Under Washington's Product Liability Act (RCW 7.72), a manufacturer can be liable when a vehicle or component is unreasonably dangerous in one of three ways:

• Design defect — the part was dangerous as designed, even if built correctly.
• Manufacturing defect — a flaw introduced during production made an otherwise sound design dangerous.
• Failure to warn — the manufacturer didn't provide adequate warnings or instructions about a known risk.

This is different from a "lemon law" complaint about a car that simply keeps breaking down. An automotive defect injury claim is about a defect that hurt someone — and the goal is compensation for that harm.

Common DefectsVehicle Defects That Cause Injuries

Some of the defects most often behind serious injuries include:

• Airbag failures — airbags that fail to deploy, deploy too late, or deploy with dangerous force.
• Defective brakes — brake systems that fail or perform inconsistently.
• Tire failures — tread separation and blowouts that cause loss of control.
• Seatbelt and restraint failures — belts that unlatch or fail to restrain in a crash.
• Steering and suspension defects that lead to loss of control.
• Fuel-system and fire risks, and defects that cause sudden unintended acceleration.
• Poor crashworthiness — roof crush, weak structures, or rollover risks that turn a survivable crash into a catastrophic one.

These crashes often happen on the same busy routes as any collision — corridors like Meridian Ave and Hwy 512 — but the cause traces back to the vehicle itself, not just the drivers involved.

Who's ResponsibleMore Than One Party May Be Liable

Defect claims frequently involve several potentially responsible parties: the vehicle manufacturer, a component or parts maker, a tire manufacturer, or a dealer or repair shop that installed a defective part. Often a defect claim exists alongside a claim against an at-fault driver.

Washington LawThe Law Behind Your Claim

This page provides general information about Washington law and is not legal advice. The rules and deadlines that apply depend on the specific facts of your case; contact us to discuss your situation.

Why It's DifferentWhy Defect Claims Need an Experienced Attorney

Automotive defect cases are among the most demanding in personal injury law. They're fought against well-funded manufacturers, and they turn on technical proof that a product was defective — which usually requires preserving the vehicle and the failed part, pulling the vehicle's event data recorder ("black box"), reviewing recall and technical service bulletin history, and working with engineering experts. The single biggest mistake is repairing, scrapping, or letting the insurer take the vehicle before that evidence is preserved.

Greene & Lloyd handles these claims on a contingency-fee basis — no attorney fee upfront, and a fee only if we recover for you. From your first free consultation through resolution, you work directly with attorneys Rob Lloyd and Tim Greene.