According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 8,000 people are ejected from their cars each year through open doors (NHTSA). Broken door latches or strikers account for a sizable portion of these door openings. Some of these are brought on by flaws.
Those who experience discomfort and monetary loss due to door latch-related mishaps frequently qualify for compensation. Injury attorneys can assess your particular circumstances and assist you in determining your legal rights.
Drivers and passengers of a vehicle may be seriously at risk from defective door latches, particularly in the event of an accident. The most typical type of faulty door latch results in a person being thrown out of a car through a door following an accident. This can significantly worsen the existing ailments and, in some cases, cause fatal injuries.
If a door opens during a collision, a faulty door latch also risks compromising the vehicle’s structural integrity. For instance, if a door latch malfunctions and a door opens during a rollover accident, there may be a greater likelihood that the roof will cave in or experience other negative effects, which may raise the danger of harm.
Another problem is when the door opens during regular driving, which increases the chance that a passenger will fall out of a moving car. Additionally, jammed door latches that develop during an accident can be harmful since they might obstruct rescue efforts.
It has been established that several automakers released vehicles with the knowledge that the door latches did not adhere to company and federal specifications. Sometimes businesses would even be aware that their latches were flawed in advance. An auto injury lawsuit against a firm would result from this previous knowledge.
You may be eligible to file a financial claim if you or a loved one has to experience an auto injury due to a defective door latch.
Strict Products Liability Law and Door Latch Defects
When a door latch is broken, it’s possible to suffer significant injuries in an accident or simply when the driver slams on the brakes or the car jerks into a corner.
If the door latch malfunctions, the occupant may be expelled from the moving vehicle, and the ejection’s power alone could result in major bodily injury in a scenario where there would have been only minor damage or the occupant escaping without any injuries at all.
Automobile product liability rules are applied to cases involving faulty door latches. If a door latch flaw is proven to be “unreasonably risky” and harms the victim, compensation may be granted by an insurance provider or court judgment.
Because strict responsibility regulations apply to evaluating defective door latches, negligence is not required for victims to collect compensation.
Defects in door latches might include:
- Inadequate consumer warnings due to design flaws
- Errors made during production
- Inadequate usage instructions
Injuries from a door latch can be fatal or extremely seriously serious. They consist of the following:
- Bone fractures
- Death
- Road rash
- Amputation
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Damage Caused by a Faulty Door Latch?
For injuries caused to car buyers as a result of a faulty door latch, the manufacturer of the vehicle is typically held accountable.
A product liability theory of law might hold the manufacturer accountable, for example, if the design of the latch has a flaw that renders it more prone to failing.
Another typical flaw is the use of subpar materials to build the latch, which makes it risky in the event of an auto accident.
In other cases, people who have fixed a car door latch or another latch mechanism may be held accountable if a person was injured due to a poorly done auto repair. An example of this is when a mechanic or other automotive expert improperly repairs a car door latch using the incorrect part. They might be held accountable, particularly where the technician knew or should have known that the fix they made was flawed in some way.
Who Could Be Held Responsible for a Faulty Car Door Latch Case?
Injury claims resulting from defective door latches are frequently significant and may necessitate legal action to adequately address the difficulties in the case.
A monetary damages award will typically be given to the non-liable party as the remedy in these types of harm litigation. The damages may cover losses, including medical expenses, hospital bills, property damage repairs, and other connected expenses.
When a product problem is involved, the car might be recalled, and a class action lawsuit might follow.
Punitive damages, as well as compensatory damages, are available to people who were injured in incidents due to faulty door latches. Victims who obtain compensatory damages are given money to cover some or all of their accident-related costs, such as medical expenditures, lost wages, missed opportunities, and mental and physical suffering. The compensatory damages are calculated per pre-established standards, considering the injuries’ seriousness.
On the other hand, punitive damages punish the responsible party by giving the victim more money. Depending on the state, several methods are used to calculate punitive damages.
Failure of Door Latch Causes
There are many possible door latch defects. As an illustration, the door latch might not shut all the way when the door is closed.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Might Not Be Met.
In a crash scenario, a door latch must withstand an inertial load of 30 Gs (thirty times the force of gravity). A door latch could be defective if it does not meet this standard.
The Door Latch System’s Technology May Be Old
Contact a lawyer who focuses on product liability claims if you think a faulty door latch is to blame for your injuries. They can assess your claim and determine whether you qualify for compensation.
You might be qualified to bring a wrongful death claim if you lost a loved one in an accident caused by a faulty door latch. Your legal rights can be protected by hiring a wrongful death injury attorney.
When You May Need a Lawyer
Although insurance companies handle most small door latch injury claims, harmed parties should review their legal options with a personal injury lawyer who has experience litigating accident compensation cases involving faulty door latches.
Many plaintiffs receive compensation that exceeds their initial agreements because of an attorney’s experience.
The following circumstances may support a claim for a defective door latch:
- The victim has not received full compensation for all accident-related costs, including medical bills, missed wages, mental and body agony, and lost opportunities.
- The settlement of the claim has been postponed. Due to severe time limits for initiating claims, victims may miss their chance to get compensation if settlements take a lengthy time.
Contact a lawyer if you have any questions regarding your legal rights, or how to proceed with the next steps for your claim.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Help Me with a Lawsuit Over a Defective Door Latch?
Cases involving defective door latches are frequently complicated and necessitate legal counsel. If you need assistance with bringing a lawsuit, it might be in your best interests to work with a defective products attorney in your area. In addition to representing you in court, your attorney can give you legal counsel.
