Car safety features are designed to keep drivers and passengers safe while on the road. From Forward Collision Warning (FCW) to Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), these features can make a huge difference in the event of an accident.
But what happens when car safety features fail? Who is responsible, and what legal action can be taken?
In this blog, we will discuss what car safety features are, how to use them, and most importantly what potential legal actions you should take if they fail.
What are Car Safety Features?
Car safety features are advanced technologies built into vehicles to help prevent accidents and reduce the severity of collisions.
Here are some examples of popular safety features and what they do:
Forward collision warning (FCW): This feature alerts the driver if there is a risk of a front-end collision with the car ahead.
Automatic emergency braking (AEB): AEB uses sensors to detect potential collisions and automatically applies the brakes to avoid or mitigate the impact.
Lane departure warning (LDW): This feature alerts the driver if the car drifts out of its lane without using the turn signal.
Lane keeping assist (LKA): LKA helps the driver stay in the correct lane by applying steering torque when necessary.
Intelligent parking assist system (IPAS): IPAS helps drivers park their vehicles by using sensors to detect obstacles and automatically control the steering and brakes.
Using Car Safety Features
While these features are designed to assist you while driving, it’s important to remember that these features are only meant to support you, because you can still be at fault if they do not function correctly.
It's essential to always use caution when driving and not rely solely on safety features, but if a safety feature does fail resulting in an accident, and you don’t believe you are at fault you may need to seek legal action.
What To Do If a Car Safety Feature Fails
If you find yourself involved in an accident caused by a safety feature failure, it’s important to contact an injury lawyer immediately. To prove that you are not at fault and there was a defect in the safety feature, we must determine whether the safety feature was defective in design or manufacture.
To prove a defect, the following must be established:
Defective design: The car or safety feature was manufactured and assembled according to its design, but something about the design made the feature malfunction.
Defective manufacture: Maybe nothing is wrong with the design, but the part or car was assembled in a defective manner.
In the case you are involved in an accident caused by a safety feature failure, get in touch with an injury lawyer immediately to help you determine if you are eligible for compensation.
Compensation for Your Injuries
If you can prove that the car’s safety feature was defective, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. This includes economic damages such as medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, and lost future wages if you cannot return to your old job.
You may also qualify for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, physical pain, emotional distress, inconvenience, disfigurement, and lost enjoyment of life.
Car safety features can make a huge difference in the event of an accident, but they aren't foolproof. If you find yourself in a situation where a safety feature has failed and resulted in an accident, contact Whalen Injury Lawyers today to speak with an injury lawyer today.
We can help you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve. Remember to always use caution when driving, and if a safety feature fails, take action to protect yourself and your rights.