Holding Automakers Accountable When a Defective Vehicle Causes Serious Injury
When a crash is caused or made worse by a defective vehicle or auto part, you may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer, not only a claim against another driver. Hunt Law Firm represents New Mexico families injured by defective airbags, tires, brakes, seatbelts, and fuel systems. Our Santa Fe product liability attorneys investigate what actually failed, work with engineers and safety experts, and build each case for trial so automakers and parts makers are held accountable for the harm they cause.
Why Choose Hunt Law Firm for Your Auto Defect Case
When a defective vehicle or safety component causes a serious crash, you need a law firm prepared to prove what went wrong and who should be held accountable. Hunt Law Firm brings more than two decades of experience representing injured New Mexicans and a trial-focused approach built to pursue the maximum compensation available.
- More than 20 years of experience providing powerful representation to injured people and their families in New Mexico.
- Proven results, including multi-million-dollar jury verdicts in serious injury cases.
- A trial-focused strategy aimed at helping clients recover the maximum compensation they deserve, not just whatever an insurer is willing to offer.
- Experience handling defective product claims involving automobile products such as airbags, seatbelts, tires, and child car seats.
- Access to engineers and design experts who can analyze defects, provide expert testimony, and help build a stronger case.
- Free consultations, including meetings by phone, at your home, at the office, or at the hospital, with no attorneys’ fees unless compensation is recovered for you.
- Legal advice offered in several languages to better serve New Mexico communities.
Hunt Law Firm understands that manufacturers and insurers may try to minimize responsibility after a serious injury. That is why the firm builds cases strategically and prepares strong claims for court when necessary.
What Counts as an Auto Defect?
An auto defect is a flaw in how a vehicle or one of its parts was designed, built, or labeled that makes it unreasonably dangerous. New Mexico product liability law generally recognizes three kinds of defects:
- Design defects, where the vehicle is dangerous as designed even when built correctly, such as a roof that crushes in a rollover or a fuel system that ruptures in a rear impact
- Manufacturing defects, where a mistake during assembly makes one vehicle or part more dangerous than intended, such as a cracked weld or a bad batch of tires
- Warning defects, where the maker fails to warn of a known hazard or gives inadequate instructions
Not every defect is obvious at first glance, and some problems only become apparent after a crash or failure. In many cases, the key question is whether the vehicle or component was unsafe in a way that made the injury foreseeable. When that happens, the defect may become a central issue in determining who is responsible for the harm.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Defective Vehicle in New Mexico?
More than one company may be responsible when a defective vehicle causes injury. Potential defendants include:
- The automaker that designed and assembled the vehicle
- A component manufacturer that made a defective part, such as a tire, airbag, or ignition switch
- A dealership or other seller in the chain of distribution
Under New Mexico’s strict products liability law, you generally do not have to prove the manufacturer was careless, only that the product was defective and unreasonably dangerous.
New Mexico usually makes each at-fault party pay only its own share of a verdict. Product liability is an important exception, but a limited one. Companies that are strictly liable for making and selling a defective product can be held jointly and severally liable for their combined share of the fault. That means you may be able to collect that entire share from any one of them, such as the automaker or the dealership. It does not mean a manufacturer pays for fault the jury assigns to someone else, like another driver.
You Do Not Have to Prove the Automaker Broke a Federal Rule
Manufacturers often argue that their vehicle met every federal safety standard, so it could not be defective. Federal law itself rejects that shortcut. The federal motor vehicle safety statute says that meeting a federal safety standard does not excuse a company from liability under state law. Compliance is relevant evidence, but it does not by itself prove a vehicle was safe. A jury still decides whether the vehicle created an unreasonable risk of injury, meaning a risk that a reasonably prudent person who knew the full danger would find unacceptable.
You may also have a claim even if the defect did not cause the crash. When a dangerous design makes your injuries worse than they should have been, New Mexico recognizes what is called a crashworthiness or enhanced injury claim.
These claims work a little differently from an ordinary defective product case. New Mexico courts decide them under negligence principles, so the question is whether the manufacturer used reasonable care in designing and building the vehicle. You also have to show how much worse the defect made your injuries compared to what the crash alone would have caused. That is why an early engineering investigation matters so much in these cases.
After a wreck, you can look up open recalls for your vehicle by entering its VIN, and you can report a suspected safety defect to federal regulators.
How New Mexico’s Comparative Fault Rule Affects Your Recovery
New Mexico follows pure comparative negligence. If you are found partly at fault, your share of fault reduces your compensation, but you are not barred from recovering. Even a driver found mostly at fault can still recover from a manufacturer whose defective product contributed to the injuries. Automakers often try to shift blame onto the driver to cut what they owe, and we push back with engineering evidence that keeps the focus on the defect.
How Long Do You Have to File an Auto Defect Claim in New Mexico?
In most New Mexico injury cases, including claims based on a defective product, you have three years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. If a defect causes a death, the wrongful death claim has its own three-year deadline, and it runs from the date of death rather than the date of the crash. Those can be two different dates.
Missing the deadline can permanently bar your case, so it is important to act quickly. Early action also protects vital evidence. The vehicle itself is often the most important proof, so it should be preserved rather than repaired, sold, or scrapped.
Compensation You May Be Able to Recover
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may recover compensation for financial losses or economic damages. Examples of these damages include:
- Medical bills and rehabilitationÂ
- Long-term personal or nursing care
- Property damage
- Lost wages and future earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Additionally, you can seek compensation for your non-economic damages, including pain and suffering. These damages also include diminished quality of life, disfigurement, permanent impairments, and emotional distress.
When a defect causes a death, the family may recover through a wrongful death claim. In New Mexico, a personal representative is appointed for the estate files that claim, and the recovery is then distributed to the surviving family under state law.
See our record of case results. Each claim is unique, and past results do not guarantee a specific result. What our track record shows is our dedication to each client and our willingness to aggressively pursue each claim to the fullest.
Talk to a Santa Fe Auto Defect Attorney Today
If you or someone you love was hurt by a defective vehicle or auto part, Hunt Law Firm is ready to help. We will investigate the defect, deal with the manufacturer and its insurers, and fight for the compensation you deserve. You pay no attorneys’ fees unless we win. Contact Hunt Law Firm today to schedule your free consultation to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions About Auto Defect Claims
Is an auto defect claim different from a normal car accident case?
Yes. A typical car accident claim focuses on driver negligence. An auto defect claim is a product liability case against the maker of the vehicle or a part. These cases often require engineering analysis and expert testimony. Many defective vehicle claims begin as ordinary Santa Fe car accident cases until an investigation reveals that a part failed.
What should I do with my vehicle after a crash I think was caused by a defect?
Do not repair, sell, or junk it. The vehicle is key evidence, and it must be preserved so experts can examine the failed part. Take photos, keep all records, and speak with a personal injury attorney before dealing with the manufacturer or giving a recorded statement to any insurer.
Can I still sue if my vehicle was under a recall?
Yes. A recall does not erase a manufacturer’s responsibility for injuries a defect has already caused. A recall may also help show that the company knew about the danger, depending on when it was issued and what it said. You may still have a claim whether or not you received or completed the recall repair.