Santa Rosa Auto Defect Accidents

While most Santa Rosa car accidents happen because someone is negligent, that’s not always the case. In fact, about two percent of car accidents are caused by auto defects. Defects are problems inherent in a vehicle or a piece of equipment, like brakes, airbags, or tires. As the victim of a Santa Rosa auto defect accident, you have rights. This can include the ability to file a lawsuit against the company that manufactured the defective car part.

The experienced Santa Rosa car accident lawyers at Singleton Schreiber want to help you fight for the financial accountability you need and deserve.

Crash victims and families in Santa Rosa choose Singleton Schreiber because we offer trustworthy, effective legal representation and yield results. Our nationally acclaimed California trial attorneys have successfully forced manufacturers and other powerful corporations to pay clients well over $2.5 Billion in damages.

Now, we’re here to help you hold a car manufacturer responsible for the defect that caused your car accident. Get started by calling our Santa Rosa personal injury attorneys for help. There is no charge for your initial case evaluation.

What Is An Auto Defect?

Defects are problems related to a product’s design, the way it was manufactured, or its safety warnings. When one component of a vehicle doesn’t work properly, it can contribute to or cause catastrophic traffic accidents in which innocent motorists are injured or killed.

At Singleton Schreiber, we have extensive experience advocating for car accident victims who’ve sustained injuries due to all types of auto defects, including:

• Brakes
• Tires
• Steering columns
• Turn signals
• Brake lights
• Headlights
• Electrical systems
• Airbags
• Seatbelts
• Door latch mechanisms
• Accelerators
• Windshield wipers
• Fuel systems
• Windshields
• Ignition systems
• Engine cooling systems

If you believe that your crash was the result of a defective car part, contact our California car accident attorneys in Santa Rosa to discuss the details of your case. We can listen to your story, offer some preliminary guidance regarding your legal rights and options, and explain how our law firm might be able to help you secure compensation to offset your medical expenses, loss of income, and harder-to-value pain and suffering.

What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Compensation After an Auto Defect Accident in Santa Rosa?

When a company decides to sell a vehicle or vehicle components in the state of California, it assumes a responsibility to make sure that its products are safe. Under California law, a company that designs, manufactures, or sells a car (or vehicle component) can be strictly liable if the product is defective and causes a consumer’s injury or wrongful death.

As a result, there is no requirement for you, as the victim of an auto defect accident in Santa Rosa, to prove that the car manufacturer was negligent.

Instead, you simply have to prove:

• The vehicle or vehicle component was designed/manufactured/sold by the defendant 
• The vehicle/component was defective
• The defect contributed to or caused your recent car accident in Santa Rosa, and
• You’ve sustained damages.

There are three main types of defects that can give rise to a civil lawsuit for damages: design, manufacturing, and marketing. 

• Design defects involve problems inherent in a product’s design, which cannot be overcome during assembly or safety testing
• Manufacturing defects occur when a mistake is made during the manufacturing process, and can make otherwise safe products unsafe
• Marketing defects involve a company’s failure to disclose potential hazards associated with a product’s normal or anticipated use

Your product liability claim can be based on one or more of these types of defects.

Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Santa Rosa If I’ve Been Injured Because of an Auto Defect?

Car manufacturers are powerful. It can be intimidating to accuse them of putting a faulty vehicle or safety component on the market and causing you great harm. Fortunately, this isn’t a fight you have to take on by yourself.

In fact, you’re more likely to win your auto defect case when you level the playing field by putting a respected civil litigator in your corner. 

At Singleton Schreiber, we’re committed to being the fearless advocate you need during this difficult time. We’re local lawyers with national resources at our disposal, which allows us to provide personalized yet powerful representation when our clients need it most.

We’re here to handle all aspects of your auto defect case, including:

• Conducting a thorough independent investigation into your car accident to identify every possible cause
• Determine the specific defect that contributed to or caused the wreck
• Bring in experts to help us understand how the defect could have been fixed so that your vehicle would have been safe for you to use
• Establish whether the defect specific to your crash has been a factor in other accidents
• Depose the vehicle manufacturer, the vehicle retailer, mechanics, eyewitnesses to the crash, and other parties who may have insight into your case
• Gather evidence needed to demonstrate liability and document the full extent of your damages, including your medical expenses, lost wages, disability, and emotional distress
• File your auto defect claim with the local Sonoma County court clerk within the applicable statute of limitations

Our car accident attorneys in Santa Rosa will build a strong legal claim backed by solid evidence and persuasive expert testimony. We’ll force the car manufacturer to take responsibility for your accident and make you a fair settlement offer during negotiations. If it refuses, they’ll have to take their chances going up against our award-winning California trial attorneys in court, where we’ll be ready to argue the merits of your case to a jury.

You’ll only have a short window of time in which to file an auto defect claim. California has a strict two-year statute of limitations on most personal injury disputes. So, do not hesitate to contact our top-rated Santa Rosa car accident lawyers for help right away. Members of our team are available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.