Defective Auto Parts Lawyers in Georgia & South Carolina
When a vehicle component fails — a brake system that does not stop the car, an airbag that does not deploy (or deploys with lethal force), a tire that blows out at highway speed, or a seatbelt that unlatches on impact — the consequences are catastrophic. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issues hundreds of vehicle recalls every year, affecting millions of vehicles, but many defective parts remain on the road and in use until they cause serious injury or death.
At Roden Law, our defective auto parts lawyers represent accident victims throughout Georgia and South Carolina who were injured because a vehicle component failed to perform as designed. We pursue claims against manufacturers, distributors, and retailers under strict liability and negligence theories to obtain full compensation for our clients.
Common Defective Auto Parts
Auto part defects fall into several categories, each with distinct failure modes:
- Airbag defects: Non-deployment during a crash, delayed deployment, excessive force deployment (Takata shrapnel recalls), and inadvertent deployment without a crash
- Brake system failures: Brake fade, brake line rupture, anti-lock brake (ABS) malfunction, and electronic braking system software defects
- Tire defects: Tread separation, sidewall blowouts, manufacturing defects causing sudden failure at highway speeds
- Seatbelt defects: Inertial reel failure (seatbelt does not lock during impact), latch failure (buckle releases on impact), and webbing tears
- Steering system failures: Power steering pump failure, electronic power steering software glitches, tie rod failures causing loss of steering control
- Roof crush: Inadequate roof strength in rollover crashes, causing the roof to collapse into the passenger compartment
- Fuel system defects: Fuel tank placement, design, or materials that allow rupture and fire in crashes
- Accelerator defects: Sudden unintended acceleration from electronic throttle control malfunctions or floor mat interference
Georgia and South Carolina Product Liability Law
Both Georgia and South Carolina provide legal frameworks for holding auto parts manufacturers accountable:
- Georgia: Georgia’s product liability statute (O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11) allows strict liability claims against manufacturers of products that are defective and unreasonably dangerous. Claims can be based on design defects, manufacturing defects, or failure to warn. Georgia also allows negligence claims against manufacturers.
- South Carolina: South Carolina recognizes strict liability for defective products under common law, following the Restatement (Third) of Torts: Products Liability. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in the chain of distribution may be held strictly liable for defective products.
Under Georgia’s comparative fault rule (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33), recovery is available if the injured party was less than 50% at fault. South Carolina’s threshold is 51%.
Crashworthiness and Enhanced Injury Claims
Even when a car accident is caused by another driver’s negligence, a defective auto part may have made the injuries far worse than they should have been. This is the “crashworthiness” or “enhanced injury” doctrine — the manufacturer is liable for the additional injuries caused by the defective component, beyond what would have occurred in the same crash with a properly functioning part. For example, if a seatbelt fails during a crash, the manufacturer is liable for the enhanced injuries caused by the occupant being unrestrained, even though another driver caused the crash itself.
NHTSA Recalls and Evidence
NHTSA recall data, technical service bulletins (TSBs), and complaint databases provide valuable evidence in defective auto parts cases. Our attorneys research the NHTSA recall database for every case to identify known defects, prior complaints, and recall campaigns involving the same component.
Filing Deadlines
Georgia’s product liability statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of injury (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33) with a 10-year statute of repose from the date of first sale (O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11(c)). South Carolina allows 3 years from the date of injury (S.C. Code § 15-3-530) with a separate statute of repose for certain products. Preserve the defective part as evidence — do not allow the vehicle to be repaired, scrapped, or destroyed before consulting an attorney.