Defective brakes to blame in Pittsburgh overpass accident

You do not have to think too deeply to realize the importance of well functioning brakes on an automobile. When brakes fail, they almost guarantee a car accident, as failure takes away the driver’s ability to stop the vehicle and avoid colliding with other vehicles, pedestrians or objects.

Brake failure can also make what would have been a minor accident, much more severe, since there was no way of slowing the car before the collision. In many cases, this can mean the difference between life and death.

An example of how dangerous defective brakes can be occurred recently in Pittsburgh. A driver of a pickup truck plunged off of an overpass onto Second Avenue near the Liberty Bridge. According to the driver, when he attempted to apply his brakes, they did not respond. Since there was traffic in his path, he attempted to go around it using the right sidewalk of the overpass.

Once on the sidewalk, there was nothing to stop the truck but a chain-link fence that was powerless to stop a speeding truck. Once the truck collided with the fence, it went over the side of the overpass, crashing down onto Second Avenue below. Although the collision caused the truck’s roof to collapse, trapping the driver, thankfully the vehicle’s occupants are expected to make a full recovery from their injuries.

A later investigation of the accident by police confirmed that defective brakes caused the accident.

Defective products and the law

Fortunately those who have been injured by defective products are protected by product liability law. Under Pennsylvania law, manufacturers, suppliers and, in some cases, sellers of a defective product can be held liable for injuries and damages caused by a defectively manufactured or designed product.

A manufacturing defect occurs when the product is defective because of an error in the manufacturing process or the use of substandard materials. A design defect, on the other hand, occurs when the product is properly manufactured, but is unreasonably dangerous due to errors in its design. In addition, products can be considered defective if they do not have proper warnings or instructions concerning their use.

Product liability issues are often complex and full of exceptions. If you have been injured and suspect that a product defect is to blame, contact an experienced personal injury attorney. An attorney can advise you of your right to compensation and work to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.