Common Defects with Vehicular Recalls

Posted on January 19, 2015 by admin

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Thousands of vehicles have been recalled by the manufacturer over the past several decades. This happens when certain parts or functions of a car or truck malfunction in a way that can cause a person harm or death. Defectively-designed automobiles are a danger to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, putting the vehicle’s manufacturer in a liable position. There are many different ways a vehicle can be defective, resulting in recall.

Continue reading to learn what these common defects are and who to call if you believe you were injured as a result of a malfunctioning automobile.

Motor Vehicle Defects

Vehicles have been recalled for various reasons regarding defects over the past twenty years and more. Such defects cause accidents like vehicular fires, explosions, faulty seat belts, defective airbag systems, obstruction of views, tire blow-outs, engine malfunctions, loss of control, loss of brakes, and much more. Adults, teens, and children have been killed, disfigured, paralyzed, scalded, burned, and seriously injured from motor vehicle accidents caused by auto defects and malfunctions.

Automotive manufacturers retain state of the art equipment and technology to produce vehicles that can render a safe collision course for passengers and drivers; so there is no excuse for them to make such devastating mistakes. They often rush a new line of vehicles out to the market allowing their economic agendas outweigh proper consideration for safety. So crucial corners are cut when it comes to adequate safety features in order for them to get their product on the dealership floors faster; only this comes back to haunt them later. The result is usually some form of automotive product liability lawsuit.

Here are some examples of the most common vehicular defects in popular make and model cars and trucks that were pulled from the market for liability reasons:

• Defective Tires
• Airbag System Defects
• Seat Belt Defects
• Electrical Circuit Defects
• Faulty Car Doors (allowing ejection in an accident)
• Defective Car Roof Structures (can roll-over or crush victims in an accident)
• Fuel System Defects (PCFFF, or Post Collision Fuel Fed Fire)
• Defective Side-Impact Features
• And More

If you or a loved one was recently injured in a motor vehicle accident as a result of another person or entity’s negligence, including defective automobiles, contact a car accident injury lawyer right away and learn your rights to compensation.

Craven Blazek Law

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call Craven Blazek Law at 317-881-2700 for information about product liability and car accident injury lawsuits in Indianapolis, Indiana. Seasoned attorney, Daniel Craven, is happy to answer your questions about all personal injury accidents and claims. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we win your settlement. Call 317-881-2700 and schedule your free consultation to discuss a recent Indianapolis personal injury with a licensed attorney, today.

Safety Tips Following Airbag Deployment in a Motor Vehicle Accident

Posted on January 12, 2015 by admin

Car Accident Lawyers 317-881-2700

Modern vehicles have an airbag system meant to protect drivers and passengers from sudden impact or ejection. In older model cars and trucks, there is typically only one airbag, and it’s located in the steering wheel or driver’s side dash. Newer model vehicles are more likely to come equipped with driver-side and passenger-side airbags; and others even come with side-cabin airbags, headrest airbags, rear-seat airbags, and more.

There are several crash sensors located all throughout a vehicle that relay instantaneous messages to the airbag control unit when they sense the car’s physical well-being has been damaged. The airbag control unit then responds by initiating airbag deployment. From the moment a vehicle’s crash sensors detect a collision, to the moment the airbags deploy, only a fraction of a second passes by. This entire process from start to finish happens faster than a person can blink an eye.

Airbags are enormously advantageous and revolutionary assets to our society. This is because they provide a soft cushion in the case of a sudden impact or collision, preventing serious head and chest injuries, brain injuries, orthopedic injuries, ejection from vehicles, and more. Although airbags are meant to, and do, save lives, they can also cause minor to moderate injuries; especially if seat belts are not worn.

Airbags are designed to work in conjunction with a vehicle’s safety restraints. Failure to properly restrain oneself in a vehicle can result in more severe airbag injuries or more serious injuries. After being involved in a motor vehicle accident that causes your airbags to deploy, it is best to know what to do next for the safety of yourself and your passengers. Continue reading to learn the proper steps to take after an airbag system deploys in a vehicle.

Airbag Injuries

It is very common for a person to experience an airbag deployment at least once in their lives. For this reason, it is helpful to know how to handle this type of situation in order to reduce anxiety, stress, and shock if it does ever happen. Keep in mind that airbags don’t just deploy in serious car accidents, they can also deploy from minor ones as well. For example, in some vehicles, if the crash sensors detect abrupt and forceful braking, the airbags might deploy. In any case that airbags deploys, here are the steps to take to ensure your safety and security:

Assess Your Health

Car Accident Injury Claims 317-881-2700

Immediately after the airbags deploy and your vehicle has come to a complete stop, the first thing to do is assess your health and the health of any passengers that might be with you. Are you and your passengers conscious? Take a look at all extremities and skin, checking for burns, abrasions, or possible broken bones. Consider the head, neck, back, and spine; how do they feel and do you believe they’re injured? Can you walk? Can you talk? Can you see? Do you feel nauseous?

These are all important considerations for drivers and passengers after an airbag deploys. If you conclude that you are in good health, begin to offer help to other passengers, as well as, any other individuals that were involved in the accident.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Even if you and your passengers feel as though everything is fine, sometimes adrenaline or shock can null pain and injury. Also, concussions and head traumas can lie dormant for days before becoming evident. This is why seeking immediate medical care is vital. In almost all cases, an emergency vehicle or EMT crew will arrive minutes after a car accident to do just this. They can offer medical care at the scene, or provide transportation to the hospital for more serious injuries.

For accidents that do not involve injury

Once the airbag deploys, and you are sure you are not injured, the first thing to do is turn the vehicle’s engine off and get out of the vehicle. Most of the time this happens automatically when airbags are deployed; but if for some reason the vehicle does not turn off, be sure to do it yourself. This prevents explosions or fires in the case of fuel leaks. So as soon as you are stable, turn the ignition off and give yourself some distance from the vehicle.

If you were recently involved in a motor vehicle accident in which you believe the airbag malfunctioned, or you were injured as a result of another driver’s negligence, contact a personal injury law firm right away. They have the proper knowledge and resources to recover compensation for victims of negligent car accidents and injuries.

Craven Blazek Law

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call Craven Blazek Law at 317-881-2700 and speak with licensed accident lawyer, Daniel Craven, about motor vehicle accident claims in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our personal injury law firm offers free initial consultations and never collects legal fees unless we earn your settlement. Call 317-881-2700 and schedule an appointment with a seasoned car accident attorney in Indianapolis, IN to learn your rights, today.

A Pre-Existing Medical Condition Can Affect a Personal Injury Claim

Posted on December 23, 2014 by admin

Medical Malpractice Lawyers 317-881-2700

Accident Lawyers 317-881-2700

When two drivers are involved in a motor vehicle accident, the at-fault party is the driver that demonstrated negligence, thus causing the accident. It is the insurance company of the at-fault party that will file any personal injury claims or damage claims set by the victim or victim’s family. One of the most common defense methods used by insurance companies in an attempt to evade responsibility for someone’s damages, is to identify a pre-existing medical condition and blame the severity of one’s injuries incurred in a car accident on this pre-existing ailment
rather than the accident itself.

If they suspect that a person’s injuries are a result of an injury that has occurred in the past, they can legally request and receive a victim’s medical records by subpoena to look for any medical ailments that might be related or similar to the injuries sustained in the car accident. Insurance adjusters do this in order to prove that a pre-existing medical condition is directly related to the severity of a victim’s current injuries caused by a motor vehicle accident. If they are successful, then a victim may not be able to recover as much compensation for their damages as they would if they had not had a previous medical condition similar to the ones incurred from the car collision.

At-Fault Liability

Just because a victim might have a pre-existing condition that is relatable to their current injuries following a car accident, an at-fault driver is not off the hook. They are still liable for their negligence, and are still accountable for a victims exemplary damages. It simply means that a victim will have to fight harder to prove their case and defend the fact that their injuries were solely a result of their recent accident. Challenging an insurance company on your own is almost impossible; as they will find any reason to not pay out as much money for one’s damages.

This is just one reason why a car accident victim requires the professional representation of a personal injury attorney. They retain the litigation and trial experience necessary to prove a case and recover the full and fair compensation their client’s rightfully deserve. A licensed car accident lawyer knows how to build a solid injury case and refute any allegations from an opposing party. They can facilitate an in-depth review of all medical history, as well as, call previous doctors and medical advisors to the stand to testify on their client’s behalf. They will fight hard to prove to the judge and jury that the previous medical injury was fully healed, and not a pre-existing condition.

Craven Blazek Law

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call our licensed car accident lawyers at 317-881-2700 for information about filing a claim after a motor vehicle accident in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorney Daniel Craven is eager to answer your questions about suffering serious injuries after a car wreck. We offer free initial consultations and never collect attorney fees unless we win a settlement for you. Call 317-881-2700 to learn your rights following a serious car accident in Indianapolis, IN.