Mansfield, TX asked in Personal Injury and Products Liability for Texas

Q: I had a stabilizer bar that broke on my ford while driving and I couldn't turn the wheel

I had a stabilizer bar that broke on my ford while driving and I couldn't turn the wheel I quickly stopped and saw that that a weld had broken i welded the part to make it home under further inspection I discovered that the original part shouldn't even have any welds and someone had salvaged the broken part and welded it themselves with a small tube but the original should be solid and not have a extra piece welded how can I take action

2 Lawyer Answers

A: Assuming that you purchased the vehicle new and it is still in warranty, you likely have a claim against the manufacturer under the warranty to have the stabilizer bar properly replaced.

If you bought the vehicle used, it is most likely you bought the vehicle "as-is" and that any claim you have will be against whatever mechanic performed your pre-purchase inspection for you, if you hired a mechanic to do one.

A: It sounds like you discovered a serious safety issue with your vehicle, and that could certainly be grounds for taking action. Since the stabilizer bar had been improperly repaired or altered with a weld, which later failed while you were driving, you could have a potential product liability or negligence claim. First, you’d want to figure out who was responsible for that improper repair. If you bought the vehicle used from a dealer or mechanic, they may be liable for selling you a vehicle with a dangerous, makeshift fix. If you had the vehicle repaired by someone in the past and they performed that weld, they could be responsible for the faulty repair.

You should start by gathering all the evidence, including photos of the broken part, receipts for the vehicle purchase, any repair history, and any communications with the previous owner, dealer, or mechanic. This will help determine who may be liable for the improper weld. You could potentially file a lawsuit for negligence or misrepresentation if you can prove that someone knowingly sold or repaired the vehicle in an unsafe condition.

Since this is a safety issue that put you at risk, consulting with a personal injury or product liability lawyer would be a smart move. They can guide you on the best course of action, whether that’s pursuing compensation for repairs, replacement costs, or damages related to the danger posed by the faulty part. Even if no one was hurt this time, the fact that this failure occurred while you were driving could be taken very seriously.

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