Car Accidents Caused by Mechanical Failure in Gulfport

Gulfport, Mississippi, has its share of car accidents. They’re often caused by a driver’s careless actions, such as texting and driving, breaking traffic laws, or driving drunk. However, not every Gulfport car crash can solely be attributed to a negligent driver. In some cases, a vehicle may suffer mechanical failure, causing its driver to lose control.

If you were injured in a car accident caused by mechanical failure, you may not know where to turn or what to do next. The experienced car accident lawyers of Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC are here to help.

Call (228) 872-8752 now for a free consultation where we can review your accident and discuss your options.

How a Gulfport Mechanical Failure Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

A Gulfport mechanical failure car accident can put you and your vehicle out of commission for a long time. Serious injuries can require months of expensive medical care. When someone else’s negligence caused the accident that harmed you, that person should pay the cost of treating your injuries and repairing your vehicle.

After you’ve been badly injured, the last thing you want to do is figure out how the legal system works. You need an experienced mechanical failure car accident lawyer to handle your case. When you hire a lawyer from Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, we can:

• Investigate the cause of the accident
• Gather evidence from the scene and talk to witnesses
• Engage engineers and other experts when needed
• Determine the mechanical failure that led to the accident
• Identify all liable parties
• Collect your medical records and other evidence of the harm you suffered
• Assess the total value of your claim
• Send a demand letter to the at-fault parties
• Negotiate for a fair settlement
• Represent you at trial if reaching a fair settlement isn’t possible

Steps to Take After a Mechanical Failure Car Accident

You can take steps to protect your health and your claim for compensation following an auto malfunction accident. After you’ve called the police and gotten medical care, you should:

• Attend all your doctor’s appointments and obey the doctor’s orders.
• Keep a record of all your medical appointments, bills, and accident-related expenses.
• Stay off social media until your claim is complete and ask your friends and family not to post about your injuries.
• Don’t give any insurance representative a recorded statement. Refer them to your attorney.
• Be cautious in your conversations with any insurance company personnel. Even a statement like, “I’m okay,” can be used to suggest you’re not actually injured.
• Maintain a journal where you record your daily pain level, medical appointments and medications, and how your injury affects your daily activities.
• Contact an experienced mechanical failure car accident lawyer to handle your claim for you.

Common Causes of Mechanical Failure Accidents

Vehicle defect accidents can result from a wide range of failed parts or components, including:

• Brakes – Brake failure is a major contributor to rear-end accidents. The parts of a braking system prone to failure include the anti-lock braking system (ABS), faulty or worn brake lines, and worn brake pads and discs.
• Tires – Worn tread can’t help tires grip the road, requiring longer stopping distances and making them more prone to slipping. Other problems with tires include overinflation or punctures from road debris.
• Steering/suspension – Problems with suspension and steering can leave drivers unable to maneuver their vehicles effectively, increasing the risk of collisions.
• Lights – Malfunctioning headlights make accidents more likely in bad weather or low visibility. And without working turn signals, brake lights, and hazard lights, drivers cannot communicate with others on the road so they know what to expect.
• Windshield wipers – Worn or improperly designed wipers can leave streaks on the windshield that are difficult to see through in rain or snow. Motors that control windshield wipers can also wear out, leading to loss of visibility on the road.
• Engine failure – A malfunctioning cooling system can cause the engine to fail. Lack of oil in the engine or oil that has not been replaced recently enough can also lead to overheating and engine damage.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Mechanical Failure Accident?

Victims of car accidents tend to think that only the other driver is to blame for the crash and their injuries. Although that is often the case, other parties may be responsible for a mechanical failure accident.

Potentially liable parties include:

• Vehicle owners – Drivers are responsible for properly maintaining their vehicles. If a car owner failed to keep their vehicle road safe, whether by neglecting maintenance or skipping needed repairs, they could be held responsible for the accident and any resulting injuries.
• Mechanics or maintenance providers – If a mechanic serviced the car but overlooked bad parts or did poor repair work, the mechanic or their shop could be liable if that component later caused the crash.
• Vehicle or parts manufacturers – Parts that fail because of faulty design or production line errors are the responsibility of the company that designed or made them. Those companies can be liable for car crashes that result from their shoddy workmanship.

Collecting Evidence for a Mechanical Failure Case

Strong evidence is required to build a compelling mechanical failure case. If you’ve been seriously injured, the last thing you want to do is go back to the crash site to secure physical evidence or track down witnesses to take statements.

Call an experienced Gulfport personal injury lawyer. They can handle the evidence collection for you, including:

• Obtaining a copy of the police report – The responding officer may have noted what they believe caused the accident. The accident report may also list any witnesses who can provide statements about what they saw.
• Gathering key evidence – A lawyer can return to the scene to preserve any physical evidence that remains, such as skid marks or vehicle debris. CCTV, traffic camera, and dashcam footage also provide valuable proof of what occurred at the time of the accident. Obtaining the defective vehicle for inspection is crucial, along with securing maintenance records and recall information.
• Consulting various experts – Your car accident attorney can use the services of engineering experts and other mechanical professionals to identify any signs of vehicular failure. An accident reconstruction expert can help demonstrate how the collision happened. Experts may also be able to identify other vehicle crashes caused by the same faulty parts, strengthening the case.

After a thorough investigation, your Gulfport car accident attorney can determine the cause of the collision and who should be held accountable.

Challenges in Proving Mechanical Failure Accidents

Collisions resulting from vehicular failures can be particularly complicated for several reasons, including:

• A mechanical failure accident may result from more than one cause. It’s possible that a driver was speeding when their brakes failed, which could make both the driver and the mechanic or the brake manufacturer liable for the accident.
• Some failures might not be obvious. For instance, showing that a vehicle’s suspension was the cause of a crash can be tricky because those parts are not visible at the time of the crash and other potential causes can deflect from the real issue.
• Digital images and data from the car’s electronic control module (ECM) can be easily erased or overwritten. A lawyer can send letters to the owners of the data to prevent them from eliminating this evidence.
• Each at-fault party will be willing to push blame onto any other party to avoid having to pay compensation. An experienced attorney can untangle the finger-pointing and determine who is actually liable.

What Compensation Can Victims Seek After a Mechanical Failure Accident?

After you were injured in a vehicle defect accident someone else caused, you may pursue money for your:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Future lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Property repair or replacement

How Long Do You Have to File a Mechanical Failure Accident Claim in Mississippi?

Under Mississippi law, you typically have three years (3) from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party that harmed you. If you file after the deadline has passed, the judge can dismiss your case without hearing it, and you’ll lose the opportunity to pursue compensation in court.

In car accident cases involving mechanical failure, contacting an attorney as soon as possible is particularly crucial. Besides meeting the deadline, key evidence must be preserved before the vehicle is repaired, destroying any evidence of the faulty parts. Talk to a lawyer right away so they can act quickly.

Talk to Our Gulfport Car Accident Lawyers Today

When you’ve been hurt in a crash caused by a vehicle malfunction, you need a defective car accident attorney from Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC. We’ve been helping injured people get the money they deserve since 2014, including a $345,000 bus accident settlement involving bald tires.*

Beyond providing results, we believe our clients should be treated like family. Here is how one of our past clients described their experience of working with us:

“I had a very positive experience working with Haug, Farrar, Franco, & Ruiz. Their team was professional, knowledgeable, and responsive throughout the entire process. They took the time to explain everything clearly and helped guide me through a difficult situation with care and confidence. I truly appreciated their support and would recommend this firm to anyone in need of legal representation.” – Newbill J

Call us today at (228) 872-8752 or contact us online to get started with your free consultation.

*Each case is unique, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.