Defective Cars

When you purchase a vehicle, you expect it to be safe, reliable, and free from defects. Unfortunately, manufacturing flaws, design errors, and inadequate warnings can turn vehicles into dangerous machines that cause serious injuries or even death. 

If you or a loved one has been injured due to a defective vehicle in New York, the experienced attorneys at the Porter Law Group are here to help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

Lawyers for Defective Car Injuries in New York

Taking on major automotive manufacturers and their legal team can seem daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. Our skilled legal team at the Porter Law Group has successfully recovered substantial compensation for clients across New York State who were injured by defective vehicles. We thoroughly investigate vehicle defects, work with expert engineers and accident reconstructionists, and build compelling cases that hold manufacturers accountable for their dangerous products.

We offer free, no-obligation consultations and work on a contingency fee basis—meaning you pay no fees unless we win your case. Contact us today at 833-PORTER9 or email info@porterlawteam.com to learn how we can help.

New York’s Legal Framework for Defective Car Cases

Strict Liability Protection for Consumers

New York follows strict liability principles in defective product cases, as established in Codling v. Paglia. This legal framework strongly favors injured consumers by removing the burden of proving manufacturer negligence. Instead, you must demonstrate three key elements:

• The vehicle or component was unreasonably dangerous due to a defect
• The defect existed at the time of manufacture or distribution
• The defect directly caused your injuries

This approach recognizes that manufacturers are in the best position to ensure vehicle safety and should be held accountable when defects lead to harm.

Types of Vehicle Defects

New York law identifies three main categories of vehicle defects that may form the basis of your legal claim:

Design Defects: These are flaws in the vehicle’s blueprint that make the entire model inherently unsafe. Examples include unstable SUV designs prone to rollovers, roof structures with inadequate crush resistance, or poorly designed fuel systems that rupture during collisions.

Manufacturing Defects: These occur when an individual vehicle deviates from its intended design during production. Common examples include faulty airbag inflators, defective brakes, or improperly welded frames that fail during accidents.

Marketing Defects: These involve insufficient warnings or inadequate instructions, such as the failure to disclose risks associated with autonomous driving systems or misleading information about vehicle handling.

Comparative Negligence Considerations

New York’s pure comparative negligence system allows you to recover damages even if you were partially at fault. However, your compensation is reduced in proportion to your degree of fault. For example, if you were speeding when a tire defect caused you to lose control and crash, you may still recover 70% of your damages if the defect contributed 70% to the accident.

Product Recalls and Legal Implications

New York Lemon Law Protections

New York’s New Car Lemon Law provides additional protections for consumers dealing with defective vehicles. The law requires manufacturers to repair defects that impair safety, value, or utility within 18,000 miles or two years of delivery. If the issue persists after four repair attempts or the car is out of service for 30 or more days, you may be eligible for a replacement or full refund.

Recent amendments to the law require manufacturers to cover legal fees in successful Lemon Law arbitrations, significantly strengthening consumer leverage in these disputes. This protection works alongside product liability claims to provide multiple avenues for recovery.

Federal Recall System

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) oversees nationwide vehicle recalls under federal law. Recent data shows 32 million vehicles were recalled in 2024, many due to EV battery fire risks and ADAS (advanced driver-assistance system) software errors.

Recalls can be powerful evidence in legal claims. A recall establishes a rebuttable presumption that the vehicle or component was defective. Even if the manufacturer argues that post-recall repairs mitigate liability, the existence of a recall may significantly strengthen your case.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Injuries from Defective Cars?

Multiple parties in the automotive supply chain can be held responsible for defective vehicle injuries:

Vehicle Manufacturers: Primarily responsible under strict liability laws for producing and selling unsafe vehicles.

Parts Suppliers: May be liable for defective components they supply to manufacturers, such as the Takata airbag inflators linked to fatalities and injuries.

Dealerships: Can face negligence claims if they sell vehicles with known defects or fail to complete recall repairs.

Software Developers: A 2024 New York Appellate Division decision extended liability to developers of autonomous vehicle software whose self-driving algorithms prioritized passenger safety over pedestrian protection, violating ethical programming standards.

Recent Major Automotive Settlements and Cases

Landmark Settlement Cases

Doe v. Major EV Manufacturer (2025): A $2.3 billion settlement resolved claims that battery management systems in 2022-2024 electric vehicle models overheated, causing garage fires. Forensic analysis revealed the manufacturer had suppressed internal reports about thermal runaway risks, demonstrating the company knew about the danger but failed to warn consumers.

Smith v. Autonomous Tech Corp. (2024): A New York jury awarded $45 million in punitive damages after advanced driver-assistance system software failed to detect stopped school buses. Evidence showed the system prioritized traffic flow over collision avoidance protocols, leading to devastating crashes involving children.

Class Action: In re Turbocharger Defects: This pending multidistrict litigation alleges that turbocharger oil leaks caused 1,200 engine fires across 2019-2023 diesel trucks. Internal company memos revealed that engineers recommended safer materials, but executives opted for cheaper parts despite known risks.

Recent Major Vehicle Recalls

Recalls are issued when a substantial number of vehicle models are deemed faulty or too unsafe. If your vehicle is recalled, you may have the option for repairs, refunds, or replacements, depending on the nature of the defect. The following are recent large-scale vehicle recalls:

2025 Electric Vehicle Battery Modules

• Scope: 142,000 vehicles recalled
• Defect: Cathode contamination triggers thermal runaway, causing fires
• Remedy: Complete battery pack replacement required
• NHTSA Recall Number: 24V-901

2024 Autonomous Parking Systems

• Scope: 89,000 luxury SUVs recalled
• Defect: Software miscalculates clearance distances during autonomous parking
• Incidents: 43 garage structural collapses reported
• NHTSA Recall Number: 24V-702

2023 Child Seat Anchorage Systems

• Scope: 210,000 compact cars recalled
• Defect: LATCH anchors fracture under crash forces
• Injuries: 12 child fatalities reported before recall was issued
• Impact: Demonstrates how delayed recalls can lead to preventable tragedies

These recalls highlight ongoing quality control issues in the automotive sector and the life-threatening consequences when manufacturers prioritize profits over safety.

Building Your Defective Car Case

Successful defective vehicle cases require extensive evidence and expert analysis to overcome well-funded manufacturer defense teams. At the Porter Law Group, our process typically includes:

1. Evidence Preservation: We immediately secure the vehicle and components for expert inspection and obtain crucial event data recorder (EDR) information that shows what happened in the moments before and during the crash.
2. Expert Retention: We work with automotive engineers, accident reconstructionists, and medical specialists who can testify about how the defect caused your injuries.
3. Medical Documentation: We correlate your specific injuries to the vehicle defect through detailed biomechanical analyses that show the connection between the defect and your harm.
4. Internal Company Documents: We pursue discovery of manufacturer communications, testing data, and internal reports that often reveal companies knew about defects but failed to act.
5. Regulatory Evidence: We leverage NHTSA investigations, recall notices, and safety bulletins to strengthen your case.

Compensation for Defective Vehicle Injuries

Defective vehicles can cause catastrophic injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe burns from fires, crushing injuries, and death. If you’ve been injured by a defective vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical expenses and ongoing treatment costs
• Lost income and diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability and disfigurement
• Property damage to your vehicle
• Wrongful death (for surviving family members)

In cases involving particularly egregious manufacturer conduct—intentional concealment of defects or reckless manufacturing decisions—punitive damages may also be awarded to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar future conduct.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: How do I know if my car accident was caused by a vehicle defect? 

Signs of potential defects include unexpected vehicle behavior (sudden acceleration, brake failure, steering problems), recalls issued for your vehicle model, or accidents that seem disproportionate to the impact forces involved. Our attorneys can investigate whether a defect contributed to your crash.

Q: Can I still file a lawsuit if my vehicle was recalled after my accident? 

Yes. Recalls issued after accidents can actually strengthen your case by providing evidence that the manufacturer knew about the defect. You may also have claims for the manufacturer’s failure to issue a timely recall.

Q: What if the other driver was at fault for the accident? 

Even if another driver caused the initial collision, you may still have a defective vehicle claim if a vehicle defect made your injuries worse than they should have been. For example, if your airbags failed to deploy or your seatbelt malfunctioned during the crash.

Q: Do I need to keep my damaged vehicle? 

Yes, preserving the vehicle is crucial for expert inspection. Do not allow it to be scrapped or repaired until our attorneys can arrange for proper examination by qualified experts.

Q: Can I pursue both a Lemon Law claim and a personal injury lawsuit? 

Yes. Lemon Law claims seek vehicle replacement or refunds, while personal injury lawsuits seek compensation for your injuries. These are separate legal remedies that can be pursued simultaneously.

Q: What if I was injured in a rental car or borrowed vehicle? 

You can still pursue a defective vehicle claim even if you weren’t the owner. Product liability law protects all users of defective products, not just owners.

Q: How long do defective vehicle cases typically take? 

The timeline varies significantly depending on case complexity and whether it goes to trial. Some cases settle within months, while others involving complex technical issues may take several years. We’ll keep you informed throughout the process.

Q: What if multiple people were injured by the same vehicle defect? 

Defects often affect multiple vehicles and victims. These cases may be handled as class actions or mass tort litigation, which can strengthen individual cases and improve settlement prospects.

Time Limits for Filing Your Case

New York imposes specific time limits for filing defective vehicle lawsuits. Product liability cases generally must be filed within three years of when your injuries occurred. However, these time limits can be complex, especially in cases involving delayed discovery of defects or recalls issued years after accidents.

Given the strict nature of these deadlines and the time needed to properly investigate vehicle defect cases, it’s crucial to contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident. Don’t delay. Contact the Porter Law Group today for a free, no-obligation consultation, and learn more about your options for recovery by viewing the results we’ve achieved for previous clients. 

Why Choose the Porter Law Group

The lawyers at the Porter Law Group have decades of experience representing individuals and families whose lives have been devastated by catastrophic injuries. We have obtained large settlements and verdicts in courts throughout the State of New York. We are a state-wide firm that handles cases with a hometown feel.

Our clients come to us looking for guidance and answers. With seasoned trial lawyers, the Porter Law Group has the resources necessary to help you navigate the most complex cases, against goliath insurance companies that will stop at nothing to prevent you from receiving the compensation you deserve.  

You only get one chance to hire the best lawyer for you and your family.  Hire the lawyers most recommended by former clients and local attorneys, and the firm that obtains superior results. 

When you or a loved one’s life has been devastated by a serious personal injury in New York, don’t hire a lawyer without calling the Porter Law Group to learn why so many of our clients are thankful they trusted us with their case in their time of need.   

Contact a New York Defective Car Injury Lawyer Today

At the Porter Law Group, we understand that vehicle defects can cause life-changing injuries and devastating financial hardship. We’re committed to holding automotive manufacturers accountable when they put profits ahead of safety and to securing the full compensation you deserve.

Don’t let powerful automotive companies minimize the harm caused by their defective products. Our experienced New York defective vehicle attorneys have the resources and expertise to take on major manufacturers and fight for your rights.

Take advantage of a free case evaluation by calling 833-PORTER9 or emailing info@porterlawteam.com. We proudly serve clients throughout New York State and are ready to help you pursue justice against those responsible for your injuries.

*Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.