Most car accidents are directly attributable to negligent and errant drivers. However, mechanical faults cause crashes too. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that mechanical faults contribute to over 1 million car accidents every year.
If you are involved in a car accident where the mechanical fault was the cause, you may be entitled to financial restitution for the resulting economic and non-economic damages.
Here are three mechanical problems that can cause a car accident.
Brake failures
Brake failure is one of the leading causes of car crashes, especially rear-end collisions. No matter how much space there is between you and the vehicle in front, faulty brakes are likely to lead to a crash since it is practically impossible to control the vehicle when the brakes fail.
Steering failures
When the car’s steering or suspension unit fails, the vehicle will swerve either to the right or left. And when this happens in bad weather, the car might even hydroplane. This makes the possibility of ramming into another vehicle or the guardrails even more likely.
Headlight and tail light failures
Lights are the main form of communication between motorists, especially at night. Thus, if they aren’t working as they should, the outcome can be disastrous. In fact, most nighttime accidents are caused by defective head and tail lights. If a car’s lights aren’t working, the driver’s vision will certainly be compromised. It also means that they cannot signal other road users.
Protecting your rights
Cars are complicated. If you have suffered injuries or property damage following an accident that is attributable to another car’s mechanical default, it helps to understand that you do not have to bear the burden alone. Learning how Minnesota car accident laws work can help you protect your rights while pursuing damages from the liable party.