You need a lawyer to handle your defective auto claim, which may involve strict liability or negligence. Strict liability means that the manufacturer is liable for compensating injuries incurred due to the defect, even if they did not do anything negligent to cause the defect or make a potentially dangerous vehicle or vehicle part available to consumers. Negligence-based claims require the claimant to prove that the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer knew or had reason to know that the defect existed, that it could cause injuries to consumers, and did not take reasonable actions to mitigate the defect’s hazard. The most powerful tools a product liability attorney can provide in your defective auto claim are experience with and understanding the complex, applicable laws. An attorney can explore your legal options with you and help you determine the best path to take to obtain compensation for your injuries. This can involve filing a complaint with NHTSA or the state’s attorney general, representing you in mediation or arbitration involving the lemon law, or even filing a product liability claim to obtain compensation for injuries you received from the defective part. Proving Liability in a Defective Product Lawsuit If you seek compensation for injuries resulting from a defective auto part, a cornerstone to having a positive outcome to the claim is the ability to prove that the manufacturer was responsible for the defect. The elements you must show to prove product liability include: You experienced property damage, injury, or lost a loved one due to an unsafe product. The product had a defect in design, manufacturing, or packaging. The loss or injury you experienced directly resulted from a malfunction caused by the defect. You used the auto part per labeled instructions. To prove liability, your attorney will rely on: Complaints from other consumers about the defect The instruction manual provided with the vehicle or the defective part Evidence showing that a design defect rendered the vehicle unsafe and that a reasonable and safer alternative to the part was provided Testimony from individuals employed by the manufacturer who can speak to the processes used to manufacture the product Accident investigation reports or reports from an accident investigator or mechanic indicating that the product defect existed and was the likely cause of the accident. If an auto defect injured you or you need guidance about how to handle a defective or lemon vehicle, an auto justice attorney can help you with a free case evaluation.