Filing an Auto Accident Claim Tied to a Defective Part: What You Need to Know
Car accidents are often attributed to driver error, bad weather, or poor road conditions, but sometimes the cause runs deeper. If a defective vehicle part contributed to your crash, the process for seeking justice becomes more complicated.
Understanding how to file an auto accident claim involving a faulty component is crucial to making sure your rights are protected and that you're compensated for your injuries and losses.
Texas law gives victims the ability to hold manufacturers, distributors, and even repair shops accountable for defective parts. But the road to recovery requires strong evidence, legal strategy, and an understanding of both personal injury and product liability law.
When you work with me, you won’t get passed around or treated like just another case. I handle every claim because I understand how a serious crash can change your life. At Jose Orihuela, Attorney at Law, my firm and I help people in Webster and Houston, Texas, and surrounding areas injured by defective vehicle parts and fight to hold the right parties responsible.
Defective Parts and Car Accidents
Not every mechanical failure points to a manufacturer’s mistake. Sometimes, wear and tear or lack of maintenance is to blame. But in many cases, automotive defects result from design flaws, faulty manufacturing, or inadequate warnings—all of which can become the basis of a legal claim.
Common defective auto parts that lead to accidents include brake systems, airbags, steering components, seat belts, tires, electrical systems, and even engines. If any of these parts malfunction due to a defect, the result can be catastrophic, especially at high speeds.
Whether the defect caused a loss of vehicle control, a fire, or made a crash more severe than it would have otherwise been, that failure may shift liability away from another driver and onto the company responsible for the faulty part.
Texas law recognizes several types of product liability claims. You may have a case if your accident was caused or worsened by:
A design defect, where the product’s blueprint is inherently dangerous, even if manufactured properly
A manufacturing defect, where a mistake during the production process caused the part to malfunction
A marketing defect, such as failure to include adequate instructions or warnings for use
Establishing which of these applies will be central to your claim.
First Steps After the Accident
The first moments after any car crash are chaotic. But when you suspect a defective part was involved, it’s essential to treat the situation as both a personal injury matter and a potential product liability investigation.
Seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine. Many personal injury symptoms, especially those to the head, neck, and spine, don't fully manifest until hours or days after the incident. Then, begin documenting everything thoroughly. Your vehicle itself is a key piece of evidence. Never authorize repairs or a full teardown until your attorney has had it examined by an expert.
Preserving the condition of the car is especially critical in a defective part case. Once parts are discarded or replaced, you may lose your chance to prove the component was faulty.
Take photographs of the crash scene, the damaged vehicle, your injuries, and any skid marks or road conditions. Also, keep records of any warning lights, maintenance reports, or recalls you received before the accident. These small details can help establish whether the part failed due to poor design or manufacturer negligence.
How Texas Law Handles Product Liability and Car Accident Claims
Texas operates under a modified comparative fault system. That means if you’re partially at fault for the crash, your damages award may be reduced in proportion to your share of the blame. However, if you’re 51% or more at fault, you can’t recover damages at all.
When a defective part is involved, the blame may shift significantly away from you and toward the manufacturer. This opens the door to a product liability claim in addition to your standard auto accident claim.
Texas law doesn’t require you to prove the manufacturer was negligent. Instead, Texas follows a strict liability approach to defective products. If a product was unreasonably dangerous and caused harm while being used as intended, the manufacturer can be held accountable, regardless of whether they acted negligently during production.
To prevail in this type of claim, you typically must prove:
The part was unreasonably dangerous due to a defect
The part reached you without substantial change from its original condition
The defect caused or contributed to your injuries
You suffered real damages (medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc.)
If these elements are present, a skilled Texas personal injury attorney can help you seek compensation from the manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or even the installer, depending on the chain of liability.
How to Determine Who May Be Liable
One of the challenges in defective part accident claims is identifying who should be held responsible. Unlike a standard car accident, where another driver is typically at fault, these cases often involve large corporations with sophisticated legal defense on their side.
Potentially liable parties can include:
The manufacturer of the vehicle or the defective part
A distributor or wholesaler that handled the part before it reached the market
The car dealership that sold the vehicle, if they failed to act on known safety issues
An auto repair shop that installed or replaced the part improperly
A third-party supplier who made substandard components
Depending on the facts of the case, one or more of these entities may share legal responsibility. Holding multiple parties accountable may increase your chances of recovering the full amount of personal injury damages, especially if one company has limited insurance or assets.
How Recalls Affect Your Claim
Automobile recalls often signal that a specific part is dangerous or defective. If your vehicle—or the component in question—was subject to a recall before your accident, that can be strong supporting evidence in your claim. However, a recall isn’t required to win a product liability case.
Even if no recall was issued, a thorough investigation may reveal design flaws or material issues that weren’t immediately obvious. On the other hand, if a recall was issued and you failed to act on it, the defense may argue that you share some liability for the crash. In this case, your attorney will need to show that the recall notice was unclear, delayed, or failed to reach you.
At Jose Orihuela, Attorney at Law, I know how to uncover these details and build a case that puts the facts in your favor. It’s always a good idea to check for recalls by visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website and entering your car’s VIN. This helps clarify the scope of the issue and whether similar claims have been filed.
Proving Your Claim
Cases involving defective vehicle parts almost always require expert testimony. Engineers, mechanics, and crash reconstruction specialists may be called upon to determine what failed and why. Their testimony can demonstrate that the defect—not your driving—caused the collision or made your injuries worse.
Your attorney will likely arrange for an independent inspection of the vehicle to evaluate:
The condition of the defective part
The installation or maintenance history
Whether the part deviated from the intended design or safety standards
If a safer, economically feasible design existed
Gathering and presenting this evidence early is crucial. If the faulty component is replaced or altered during post-crash repairs, you may lose your best chance to prove liability. That’s why it’s strongly recommended not to authorize any work on your vehicle until your legal counsel has reviewed the matter.
Time Limits and Legal Processes for Filing a Claim in Texas:
In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury or product liability claim. This is known as the statute of limitations. If you fail to file within that period, you could permanently lose your right to compensation.
The legal process typically begins with an investigation and demand letter, followed by negotiations with insurance companies. If a fair settlement can’t be reached, your attorney may file a lawsuit against the responsible parties.
Given the technical nature of defective part claims, it’s common for these cases to take longer than typical car crash claims. That said, a well-documented case can often lead to a favorable settlement without going to trial.
Types of compensation available in these cases may include:
Medical expenses (past and future)
Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Property damage
Punitive damages, in cases of gross negligence or misconduct
The value of your claim depends on the severity of the injuries, the extent of the defect, and the strength of the evidence connecting the two.
Contact My Firm Today
Firms like mine understand how to investigate complicated claims involving faulty parts. With a background that includes oil refinery explosions, medical device failures, and auto-related injury cases, I help clients in the Webster, South Houston, Clear Lake, Friendswood, League City, Alvin, Houston, Dickinson, Bacliff, Kemah, Seabrook, and Santa Fe, Texas areas. If you’ve been injured in a car wreck, call me at Jose Orihuela, Attorney at Law, today.