Can You Sue a Truck Manufacturer After a Truck Accident in California?

Yes, a truck manufacturer can be sued if you’re involved in a truck accident in California. According to California Civil Code 1714.5, designers, manufacturers, and any companies involved in a product’s chain of distribution can be held liable if a defective product or part causes harm to another. To prove a truck manufacturer caused your accident due to a defective part, it is recommended to consult with a Truck Accident Lawyer about the best plan of action for your claim.

What Claims Can Be Filed Against a Truck Manufacturer After a Truck Accident in California?

In California, a truck manufacturer’s liability will typically fall under product liability law. Product liability holds manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable for providing a safe product for consumers. If a defective car part causes an injury, the victim may pursue a lawsuit based on:

1. Strict liability: a manufacturer can be held responsible for strict liability. A plaintiff must prove the product was defective and the defect was a direct cause of their injury. Strict liability can be imposed for three types of product defects:
   1. Manufacturing defects
   2. Design defects
   3. Warning defects (inadequate warning)
2. Carelessness: requires the plaintiff to prove the defendant failed to exercise reasonable care in the design, manufacture, or distribution of their product, which caused substantial injuries.
3. Breach of Warranty: warranties guarantee a car’s performance, but if a part fails to meet these guarantees, a breach of warranty could be pursued.

Common Types of Defective Car Parts that Lead to Truck Accidents in California

Defective car parts are considered any component of a vehicle that fails to perform their intended function due to design flaws, manufacturing errors, or inadequate quality control. These failures have major consequences, causing car accidents with severe injuries or even death. The most common defective car parts include:

• Brakes: these can feature defective brake pads, rotors, or hydraulic systems, causing drivers to be unable to stop or slow down.
• Tires: tire defects lead to loss of control of the vehicle, blowouts, and tire separation
• Steering systems: steering component malfunctions can make it impossible for drivers to control their vehicles, leading to horrific accidents
• Fuel systems: fuel leaks can lead to fires or even explosions when collisions happen
• Airbags: defective airbags are the result of numerous car accident fatalities as they are necessary to prevent excessive force on the driver and passengers during an accident
• Seatbelts: a defective seatbelt during a car accident can result in the driver, or passengers, being ejected from the vehicle

Product Liability Claims in California

California recognizes strict product liability claims for products, such as boilers, that are alleged to be:

• Sold with a manufacturing defect
• Defective in design
• Defective due to inadequate warnings or instructions

According to the California Supreme Court, any person whose injuries were reasonably foreseen may bring a product liability claim against a manufacturer. This is applicable in the case of Elmore v. Am Motors Corp (1969), which essentially states that a manufacturer is directly liable to anyone who is injured by their defective product because they’re responsible for approving the product for use by the general public. No direct relationship needs to exist between the liable and injured parties, so a plaintiff does not need to be the actual purchaser of the defective product to file a personal injury lawsuit against the manufacturer.

What Compensation Can I Receive for a Truck Manufacturer Accident in California?

Defective truck parts created by a truck manufacturer can result in devastating truck accidents, causing traumatic physical, emotional, and financial hardships for everyone involved. Truck accidents are some of the most violent roadway crashes and victims are often left with permanent injuries and medical debt. Accidents with severe injuries and high medical costs will typically settle for a large amount, but each case is different. The value of your case will come down to the details of your damages. When examining your claim, an attorney can calculate the value of your damages based on the following factors:

• Emergency room treatment
• Hospital bills
• Medications and medical equipment
• Ongoing treatment for current and future medical needs
• In-home care
• Lost income
• Loss of consortium
• Emotional pain
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

These damages are a combination of economic damages and non-economic damages. The total cost of these damages will be a solid indicator of what your compensation will likely be. Non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life) are not tangible things, so they do not have an intrinsic value. Instead, non-economic damages are capped at $390,000.

Contact A Truck Accident Lawyer in California

Victims of truck accidents caused by truck manufacturers are entitled to seek compensation for their damages. At Maison Law, our Product Liability Attorneys have experience holding car part manufacturers liable for defective parts, resulting in numerous clients getting the compensation they need to be made whole after an unfortunate truck accident. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation. There is no upfront charge for our services and you will not pay a cent unless we win your case.