Practice Areas

Lawyers dedicated to protecting you and your family on South Carolina’s highways.

Auto Defects

South Carolina Auto Defect and Air Bag Lawyers

No matter how safely people try to drive, automobile accidents occur. Most of us count on our vehicle to protect us in a serious wreck. We do not expect our vehicle to cause or contribute to the wreck. Nor do we expect its safety components like a door latch, seat belt or air bag to fail. When such components fail, what could have been an accident with minor injuries often becomes a catastrophic event resulting in serious injury or death.

When an individual is injured or killed in an auto accident, it is important to have an experienced trial attorney examine every aspect of the case, even when another driver is clearly at fault. It is often the case that someone suffers far more serious injuries from a malfunctioning safety component in their own vehicle than they suffered from the accident.

A motor vehicle can be unreasonably dangerous because of a design defect. A design defect occurs when the entire model line of the motor vehicle produced by the manufacturer is unreasonably dangerous. The most famous of these design defects include Ford Bronco II, Ford Explorer and Jeep CJ5 rollovers, Chevrolet and GMC truck side saddle gas tank fire hazards, and the Ford Pinto rear gas tank fire hazard. A motor vehicle or a component on may also be unreasonably dangerous because of a manufacturing defect. A manufacturing defect occurs when the manufacturer fails to make the product in accordance with plans and specifications. The design of the product might be flawless, but, the vehicle or a component became dangerously defective because it was made improperly.

Automobile and tire manufacturers have legal obligations to make vehicles that provide a reasonable amount of safety to drivers and passengers. Unfortunately, in a race for profits, auto manufacturers have often neglected safety features that could have prevented serious injuries to the people who buy their cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). As a result, thousands of people are seriously injured or killed in accidents each year due to:

• Rollovers
• Defective Tires
• Roof Crush
• Seat Belt and Air Bag Failures
• Door Latch Failures
• Car Fires
• Defective Safety Glass

A catastrophic injury is a life-changing event. At Hetrick, Harvin & Bonds, our attorneys will work to help you hold the auto manufacturers responsible for their actions and your injuries. We offer a free initial consultation.

Free Consultation.  Call Hetrick, Harvin & Bonds at (843) 549-6432

Hetrick, Harvin & Bonds
125 Walter St.
Walterboro, SC 29488
Phone:  (843) 549-6432
Fax: (843) 549-1973
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