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Without professional and well-versed Texas rideshare accident lawyers, your rights and compensation are at risk. When you are pursuing legal action against another party or parties, contact Hilliard Law. Our firm is led by Robert Hilliard, a Texas lawyer with nearly 40 years of experience who has received multiple honors for his work on several high-profile cases.
With every passing day, technological advancements work to make our everyday tasks accessible and efficient. Only a few decades ago, the talk of self-driving cars was something from science fiction novels. However, autopilot systems within motor vehicles are now available within certain vehicles and brands. The Associated Press states that Tesla has more vehicles with partly automated systems on U.S. roads than most other automakers.
Though these high-tech vehicles are extremely popular, Tesla cars aren’t perfect and can have a wide range of problems with costly solutions. Individuals who suffer severe injuries in an accident resulting from Tesla defects have two years after the day of the accident to file an injury claim against the responsible party. To pursue legal actions for defects within your Tesla, you will need to understand the claim process thoroughly.
The Process of Filing a Tesla Defect Accident Claim
In June 2021, the U.S. government began enforcing companies’ report incidents involving “Level 2,” or advanced driver-assist systems. Included in these are Tesla’s Autopilot and GM’s Super Cruise systems. With Tesla having the highest number of vehicles on the road with advanced driver-assist systems, many have found a recurring theme of accidents resulting from defective products.
To assist you with filing a Tesla defect accident claim, consider the following factors you must evaluate and prove within your claim.
Determining the Defect
If you are not at fault for the accident, you will want to hold the responsible party accountable. In order to identify who is at fault, you will first need to understand the defect that caused your accident.
Consider the following common defects Tesla drivers experience:
- Failed power steering system
- Prematurely worn-out battery
- Sudden loss of power
- Faulty and poor build quality
- Autopilot and cruise control adjustment issues
Tesla vehicles require expensive and lengthy maintenance when damaged. If you believe defective systems within the vehicle caused your accident, speak with a lawyer about your legal options and who you may hold responsible for your damages.
Identifying the Responsible Party
Originally released on September 26, 2019, Tesla’s Smart Summon is the software added to Model S, Model X, and Model 3 cars which gave the vehicles the Full Self-Driving or Enhanced Autopilot packages. While many individuals may point to the autopilot abilities as the cause, pursuing a Tesla accident claim against the system itself is inadvisable due to its proven safety and a significant lack of data.
Instead, you will more likely be able to pursue a case-by-case basis claim where the fault belongs to a manufacturer or seller who gave you a defective product due to negligence. For example, if you bring your vehicle in for repair or detailing and find issues with the vehicle that may have resulted in an accident, you may hold them responsible for damages. In other words, normal liability practices apply, and you can hold the individuals responsible for the accident accountable.
Speak With Hilliard Law for Experienced Tesla Accident Lawyers Today
Tesla vehicles provide many benefits, and the majority of drivers have no issues with the manufacturing or systems. However, other Tesla drivers may suffer severe injuries and property damage in accidents involving defective equipment. If you are in a defective Tesla accident, contact Hilliard Law for honest and professional legal representation.
Our firm has over 40 years of experience and will work hard to fight for you and your rights. We also work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay us unless we win. Call us at 1-800-334-3298 or fill out our contact form today.
