What is a T-bone accident?

A t-bone accident occurs when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another, forming the shape of a “T” at the point of impact. They can happen at intersections when one driver disregards a stop sign or red light and drives through the intersection at the same time another vehicle traverses the intersection. At Saavedra Law Firm, PLC, we have a professional t-bone accident lawyer Phoenix, AZ who can handle your case in Phoenix, AZ

What Should I Do If a Defective Part in My Car Caused a T-bone accident?

When you get in your car, you expect it to work properly. Perhaps most specifically, you expect the braking and steering systems to respond to you in the ways they’re supposed to. You certainly don’t expect your brakes to fail, your steering to fail, your gas tank to explode or one of your tires to blow out.

Unfortunately, however, cars don’t always live up to your very reasonable expectations. When something on yours fails and causes an accident, you have several options.

Product Liability

Product liability is the branch of law that holds manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and retailers who make products available to the public responsible for any injuries those products cause. Your wisest course of action if you suspect that a defective part in your car caused your accident is to contact our experienced t-bone accident lawyer in Phoenix, AZ.

Most product liability claims are brought under state law, so this is why you need the advice, counsel and representation of an experienced local lawyer who knows the applicable laws of your state. Generally, you can sue under one of the following negligence theories:

• A design defect in the failed part that made it inherently dangerous from the beginning
• A manufacturing defect that occurred during your car’s manufacture or assembly
• A marketing defect, such as the failure to provide a comprehensive owner’s manual, adequate care and maintenance instructions or appropriate safety warnings

Responsible Party

Product liability suits usually proceed within a res ipsa loquitur environment. Res ipsa loquitur is Latin for “the thing speaks for itself,” meaning that the very fact of the accident proves that someone other than you was at fault. You need not prove negligence. In fact, the burden of proof shifts to the defendant to prove that he or she was not negligent.

In terms of who you can sue, the possibilities include:

• The company whose engineers designed the car
• The manufacturer that assembled it
• The supplier of the part
• The dealership that sold the car
• Any after-market supplier that installed the defective part on it
• Any garage or mechanic that worked on the car after you bought it

Here again, at Saavedra Law Firm, PLC, our qualified t-bone accident lawyer Phoenix, AZ can help determine who to sue based on his or her accident investigation, review of police reports, etc. If you were injured in the crash, he or she can also review your medical records and arrive at a reasonable estimate of the amount of damages, both economic and noneconomic, you can expect to recover.