Syracuse Personal Injury Law Blog
Generally, collisions are the direct result of negligence. While in most instances, the negligence that causes crashes occurs in the form of careless driving, it can also arise in the negligent design or manufacture of the vehicle involved in the accident. People harmed by such defects can often pursue product liability claims against the parties that manufactured the car, but proving fault in such cases can be challenging, as shown in a recent New York case. If you were injured in a crash triggered by a defective vehicle, it is advisable to consult a Syracuse personal injury lawyer to discuss what claims you might be able to assert.
Case Setting
It is alleged that the plaintiff, a New York resident, filed a complaint against the defendant vehicle manufacturer following a car accident in January 2023. The plaintiff was driving a SUV manufactured by the defendant when the vehicle suddenly accelerated as she was entering a parking garage in Poughkeepsie, New York. The vehicle rear-ended another car, jumped a curb, and struck a pillar, where it eventually came to a stop. The plaintiff claimed to have sustained neck, head, and back injuries as a result of the crash.
Reportedly, the plaintiff alleged that the vehicle malfunctioned, causing the unintended acceleration, brake failure, and airbag failure, and further stated that the vehicle continued to rev for twenty minutes after the crash, despite the brake pedal being stuck to the floor. The defendant argued that the accident was caused by the plaintiff inadvertently depressing the accelerator. Data from the vehicle’s Event Data Recorder (EDR) revealed that the accelerator was fully depressed at the moment leading up to the crash and that the brakes were not applied. The defendant filed a motion for summary judgment, asserting that the plaintiff failed to provide any admissible evidence to support her claims of product malfunction.
Evidence Supporting Product Liability Claims
The court began by acknowledging the plaintiff’s pro se status, which required a degree of leniency in evaluating her claims. However, the court determined that the plaintiff failed to produce any admissible evidence identifying a specific manufacturing defect. The plaintiff’s claims of a vehicle malfunction were primarily based on her testimony, where she expressed uncertainty about the exact nature of the defect and did not offer expert testimony or other substantive evidence to support her theory.
Although New York law permits a product liability claim to proceed based on circumstantial evidence in the absence of direct proof of a specific defect, the court found that the plaintiff could not exclude alternative causes of the accident, such as operator error. The EDR data provided by the defendant showed that the brakes were not applied, and the accelerator was fully depressed, contradicting the plaintiff’s version of events. As such, the court concluded that the plaintiff failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact regarding a manufacturing defect and granted the defendant’s motion for summary judgment, dismissing the case.
Meet with a Trusted Syracuse Personal Injury Attorney
Car accidents caused by automobile defects can cause grave injuries, and in many instances, multiple parties can be held accountable. If you sustained injuries due to a dangerously defective vehicle, you may be able to pursue claims against the parties responsible for your harm, and it is prudent to meet with an attorney. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our trusted Syracuse personal injury attorneys understand what it takes to prevail in complex car accident cases, and if you hire us, we will advocate aggressively on your behalf. You can reach us through our form online or by calling us at 833-247-8427 to arrange a conference.