A car accident can be especially confusing when it appears that something went wrong with the vehicle itself. A tire may suddenly fail, the brakes may stop responding as expected, or a steering problem may make it difficult to keep control. When that happens, figuring out who is responsible usually starts with determining why the mechanical failure occurred.

A mechanical failure may support a personal injury claim if another party was responsible for the unsafe condition. Depending on the circumstances, that could include a driver or vehicle owner who ignored a known problem, a repair shop that performed faulty work, or a manufacturer or seller responsible for a defective component. New Jersey's comparative-fault rules can also affect how responsibility is divided when more than one party contributed to the car accident.

New Jersey's no-fault insurance system may also provide Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits for covered medical expenses regardless of who caused the crash, depending on the injured person's coverage and eligibility. Whether someone can also recover compensation for pain and suffering from an at-fault party may depend on the automobile insurance tort option that applies. A person subject to the Limitation on Lawsuit option generally must meet one of the injury categories established by New Jersey law.

When a mechanical problem may have caused the accident, preserving the vehicle and its components can be extremely important. An inspection may help determine whether the problem resulted from a defective part, improper repair, inadequate maintenance, or another cause.

Key Takeaways: Determining Liability for Vehicle Malfunctions in New Jersey

• More than one party may be responsible: A claim could involve a driver or owner who ignored a known safety problem, a repair facility that performed negligent work, or a manufacturer or seller responsible under product liability law.
• Preserving the vehicle can protect important evidence: Keeping the damaged vehicle and failed components available for inspection may help determine what went wrong.
• Maintenance and repair records can matter: Service invoices, diagnostic reports, repair recommendations, recalls, and warning indicators may help establish when a mechanical problem developed and who knew about it.
• Your filing deadline can vary: New Jersey generally allows two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, although tolling or other accrual rules may affect the deadline. Claims against public entities generally involve a much shorter notice requirement.
• Comparative negligence can affect compensation: If an injured person shares responsibility for the accident, their compensation may be reduced. Recovery may be barred if their negligence is greater than that of the defendant or combined defendants from whom they seek compensation.

When Mechanical Failure Can Cause a Crash in New Jersey

Mechanical problems can contribute to crashes when they interfere with a driver's ability to stop, steer, maintain traction, see the roadway, or keep the vehicle moving safely.

According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study using 2005-2007 National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey data, a vehicle-related "critical reason" was assigned in approximately 2% of crashes that qualified for the survey. NHTSA emphasized that assigning a critical reason did not establish that the vehicle caused the crash or determine legal fault.

Potential mechanical problems that may contribute to a collision include:

• Brake-system failures that reduce stopping ability.
• Tire blowouts or tread separation that cause a sudden loss of traction or control.
• Steering-system failures that make a vehicle difficult or impossible to steer safely.
• Windshield-wiper failures that significantly reduce visibility during rain or snow.
• Transmission or drivetrain problems that cause a vehicle to lose power or become disabled in traffic.

Many of these component failures can have more than one possible cause. A part may have been defective when it was manufactured, installed incorrectly during a repair, damaged in an earlier incident, or allowed to deteriorate without appropriate maintenance. Identifying the cause is important because it helps determine who may be legally responsible.

Who May Be Liable for a Vehicle Defect or Poor Repair?

Liability for a mechanical failure depends on what caused the problem and who had responsibility for preventing it.

A driver or vehicle owner may be negligent if they knew, or reasonably should have known, about a dangerous mechanical condition and failed to take reasonable steps to address it. Prior warnings about worn brakes, unsafe tires, persistent warning lights, or other documented safety concerns may therefore become important evidence if the same condition later contributes to a crash.

A repair shop may also be responsible when negligent work leaves a vehicle unsafe. For example, incorrectly installing a replacement part, failing to properly secure a component, or overlooking an obvious safety problem during a repair could potentially lead to liability if the error contributes to a later accident.

Automakers and other product manufacturers may face liability under the New Jersey Product Liability Act when a claimant proves that the product causing the harm was not reasonably fit, suitable, or safe for its intended purpose because of a manufacturing defect, inadequate warnings or instructions, or a defective design.

In some cases, responsibility may be shared among several parties. A defective component, for example, could be combined with an improperly performed repair or an owner's failure to respond to warning signs.

What Evidence Helps Prove Mechanical Failure?

Mechanical-failure claims often depend heavily on physical and technical evidence. Determining why a component failed may require much more than reviewing the police report or looking at photographs of the crash.

Important evidence may include:

• The damaged vehicle and failed components.
• Maintenance and repair records.
• Diagnostic trouble codes and onboard electronic data.
• Photographs or video of the vehicle after the crash.
• Safety recalls and manufacturer notices.
• Technical service bulletins.
• Warranty and dealership records.
• Prior complaints involving the same component.
• Testimony from qualified automotive, engineering, or accident-reconstruction experts.

Many modern vehicles also contain electronic systems that may provide useful crash information. Depending on the vehicle, event data recorders may capture information such as speed, braking status, throttle position, engine RPM, acceleration, and restraint-system activity shortly before or during a collision.

That information can help experts understand what the vehicle and driver were doing, but it does not necessarily identify every mechanical defect. Physical inspection of the vehicle may still be necessary.

When mechanical failure is suspected, preserving the vehicle and its components in substantially the same condition can therefore be critical. Repairing, salvaging, disposing of, or altering the vehicle before the relevant parties have an opportunity to inspect it may compromise important evidence.

How Maintenance Records Can Affect Liability

Documented service histories can provide important evidence about the condition of a vehicle before a crash.

Maintenance records may establish when a problem was identified, what repairs were recommended, whether the owner authorized the work, and what repairs were actually performed. For example, documentation showing that an owner was warned about seriously worn brakes but declined the recommended repair could become significant if brake failure later contributed to an accident.

Repair invoices can also help determine whether a shop recently worked on the component that failed. If a wheel separates shortly after tire or suspension work, for example, investigators may examine the repair records and the vehicle itself to determine whether the earlier service played a role.

Available dealership records, repair invoices, inspection reports, recall information, and vehicle-history reports can help reconstruct the vehicle's maintenance and repair history. No single record necessarily provides a complete picture, which is why several sources of evidence may need to be reviewed together.

Can You Sue a Mechanic, Manufacturer, or Other Driver?

Depending on the cause of the mechanical failure, an injured person may have a claim against a repair shop, manufacturer, vehicle owner, driver, or another responsible party.

Claims against manufacturers generally fall under the New Jersey Product Liability Act. The law addresses products that are unsafe because of manufacturing defects, defective designs, or inadequate warnings or instructions.

Claims against independent repair shops generally require evidence that the shop failed to use reasonable care when diagnosing, maintaining, or repairing the vehicle and that the failure contributed to the accident. Because automotive repair issues can involve specialized technical knowledge, expert testimony may be necessary to explain the appropriate repair practices and how the work allegedly fell short.

Another driver or vehicle owner may also be liable if they knew, or reasonably should have known, that the vehicle was unsafe. Evidence that someone continued driving despite seriously worn tires, persistent warning lights, known brake problems, or other significant mechanical concerns may support an argument that they failed to use reasonable care.

Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Mechanical Failure Car Accident Liability

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in New Jersey?

New Jersey generally requires a personal injury lawsuit to be filed within two years after the cause of action accrues. For most car accident injury claims, that period runs from the date of the crash, although tolling rules, accrual principles, or the discovery rule may affect the deadline in some circumstances.

Claims involving a state or local public entity can involve additional requirements. In many cases, a notice of claim must be presented within 90 days after the claim accrues, although New Jersey law provides a limited procedure for seeking permission to file a late notice in qualifying circumstances.

Does Modified Comparative Negligence Apply to Mechanical Defects?

New Jersey's comparative-negligence rules can affect negligence claims involving vehicle malfunctions and may also apply when fault must be allocated in a product liability case.

If you share responsibility for the accident, your recoverable damages may be reduced by your percentage of fault. Recovery may be barred if your negligence is greater than the negligence of the defendant or combined defendants from whom you seek compensation.

For example, a defective vehicle component may have contributed to a crash, but evidence that the driver ignored repeated warnings about the problem could also affect how responsibility is divided.

Can Potholes or Road Debris Cause a Component Failure?

A deep pothole or roadway obstruction can damage tires, wheels, steering components, or suspension systems and may contribute to a crash.

If a dangerous roadway condition is involved, a public entity may sometimes be liable, but claims against government entities are subject to the New Jersey Tort Claims Act.

Among other requirements, an injured person generally must establish that the property was in a dangerous condition, that the condition caused the injury and created a reasonably foreseeable risk, and that a public employee created the condition or the public entity had sufficient actual or constructive notice of it. The claimant must also satisfy the law's "palpably unreasonable" standard for the public entity's conduct.

A formal notice of claim generally must be presented within 90 days after the claim accrues, although a court may permit a late notice in limited circumstances.

Need Legal Help? Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, Is Here for You

At Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, we understand how frustrating it can be when a serious accident appears to have been caused by something that went wrong with the vehicle. Determining whether the problem began with poor maintenance, a negligent repair, or a defective component may require careful investigation and technical evidence.

Our team can review the circumstances of your accident, help identify potentially responsible parties, and work to preserve evidence before the vehicle or failed components are altered or lost. We are available 24/7 to answer your questions and explain your legal options.

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.