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Dangers of Faulty Brakes

Published: Aug 31, 2017 in Personal Injury

Your brakes are one of the most important parts of your vehicle. When a car or truck’s brakes are faulty or in disrepair, drivers take a serious gamble every time they head out on the road. Each time a driver pushes down on the brake pedal, there is a question as to whether the faulty brakes will work or whether that vehicle is about to be in a serious predicament. Faulty brakes, including those that work inefficiently or sporadically, drastically increase the chance of an accident. They also increase the likelihood of a driver being held responsible for another person’s injuries and property damage.

Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists who are harmed because of another person’s faulty brakes should contact our Jersey City car accident lawyers at Bhatt Law Group as soon as possible after the crash. Anyone who suffered property damage or bodily injury should move forward with an insurance claim or suit to pursue the compensation they are entitled to under the law. Call us today at (201) 798-8000 to find out how we can help you.

Dangerous Brake Statistics

Brake-related issues are a common cause of crashes. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey released early 2015, brakes were responsible for 10,000 of the vehicle-related critical reasons for car accidents between 2005 and 2007. This was 22 percent of accidents caused by a vehicle issue. This data suggests brakes contribute to thousands of accidents every year, which could lead to thousands of injuries and fatalities as well.

Signs of Bad Brakes

If the brakes on a vehicle are defective and they cause an accident, the owner or driver of the vehicle may not be responsible for the crash or liable for its financial consequences. However, if faulty brakes arise because of poor or improper maintenance, then the owner of the vehicle could be considered negligent if their bad brakes lead to a crash. This means vehicle owners and drivers should be well aware of the signs of faulty brakes, including:

  • A vehicle warning light. Many vehicles have brake sensors and warning lights that come on when there is an issue. If a vehicle’s brake warning light has come on, owners or drivers should have it inspected as soon as possible.
  • Unusual sounds. Any grinding, screeching, or other unusual noise that consistently occurs when a driver presses on the brakes is a sign they need to be checked and likely repaired. The issue may simply be common wear and tear.
  • Unusual vibrations. If the brake pedal, steering wheel, or any other part of the car vibrates or shakes when a driver presses down on the brakes, this could mean a part of the brakes is broken or defective. It is time for the vehicle to go to the shop.
  • The vehicle pulls. If the vehicle pulls to one side when a driver presses the brakes, there is a problem.
  • Diminished responsiveness. If a driver notices that the brakes are delayed or simply do not stop the vehicle as fast as they used to, it is time to get the brakes checked out. They may be minutes away from failing.
  • Your brake pad is too thin. You may be able to see your brake pads through your wheel spokes. If the brake pad is not at least one-fourth of an inch thick, it needs to be replaced.

Be on the Lookout for Brake-Related Recalls

While vehicle owners are generally responsible for the conditions of their brakes, there are times when they could have defective brakes and know nothing about it. Unfortunately, numerous recalls by major vehicle makers prove that even brand new vehicles could have faulty brakes. Just a few examples of brake-related recalls this include:

  • In August 2017, Land Rover recalled 124 2015 Defender off-roaders due to a potentially defective repair that could lead to a defective braking system.
  • In July 2017, Mazda recalled a few less than 228,000 2014-16 Mazda 3 and 2014-15 Mazda 6 vehicles for a defective hand-operated parking brake.
  • In July 2017, Fiat Chrysler recalled more than 565,000 2011-14 Chrysler 300s, Dodge Chargers, Dodge Challenger coupes, Dodge Durangos, and 2012-14 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs equipment with electro-hydraulic power steering because of an antilock brake defect.
  • In April 2017, Tesla recalled approximately 53,000 Model S and Model X vehicles assembled between February and October 2016 because of faulty electronic parking brakes.

Contact our Jersey City Car Accident Lawyers for Help Today

Anyone who has been injured in a brake-related accident should contact our experienced personal injury attorneys at Bhatt Law Group as soon as possible. If faulty brakes on a car led to a crash, then it will take an in-depth investigation to determine whether improper maintenance, a defect, or some other issue is to blame. Once the underlying reason for the bad brakes is determined, we can help you move forward with insurance claims or lawsuits against the liable party.

Contact us online or call (201) 798-8000 to schedule a free initial consultation.