Cars aren’t just transportation. They’re technology. They’re supposed to protect you, anticipate danger and reduce harm in a crash. But when a defect goes undetected—or worse, ignored by a manufacturer—the results can be catastrophic.
At Lucas Law Firm, our defective car attorneys represent individuals and families nationwide who have been injured or killed due to dangerous vehicle defects. From our headquarters in Kansas City, we take on complex cases involving catastrophic injury, wrongful death and hidden hazards automakers failed to prevent.
Whether your case comes directly to us or through referring counsel, we’re equipped to lead it — preparing every claim for trial, not just settlement.
Why Attorneys Refer Auto Defect Cases to Lucas Law Firm
Auto defect cases don’t always present themselves clearly, typically starting as routine crash claims. But what first appears to be driver error could be something deeper—a failed airbag, faulty brakes, or a defect the automaker should have caught.
These cases are resource-intensive, technically complex, and often out of reach for firms that don’t regularly litigate against large automakers.
That’s why personal injury lawyers across the country refer their cases to Lucas Law Firm —knowing they’re placing their clients with an auto defect attorney with the experience, resources, and courtroom strategy to go the distance.
We take on the heavy lift—investigating the product failure, securing expert analysis, and preparing for trial against major corporate defendants. Each case is handled with the precision, experience, and strategy it demands.
Think There’s No Defect? Think Again.
Many auto defect cases aren’t obvious at first glance. We’ve uncovered product failures in cases where initial reviews found nothing wrong.
If you’re an attorney with a serious injury or wrongful death case that might involve a vehicle defect, let Lucas Law Firm conduct a second review. We know where to look—and we know what manufacturers hope you’ll overlook.
Contact us today to discuss a potential referral >>
Types of Car Defects That Can Lead to Injury or Death
Auto defect litigation often hinges on hidden failures—design flaws, manufacturing defects, or the absence of critical safety systems. Many of these defects are not immediately obvious at the scene and require specialized analysis to uncover.
At Lucas Law Firm, we represent clients nationwide in complex defect cases involving:
Defective Airbags
When airbags malfunction, they don’t just fail to protect occupants—they can cause additional injuries.
Deployment failures, delayed inflation or overpowered explosions (such as in Takata airbag cases) can lead to severe trauma, penetrating injuries or death.
Airbag defect cases frequently involve failures to meet federal crashworthiness standards or internal company knowledge of defective inflators.
Tire Blowouts
Tire defects—including tread separation, sidewall integrity failures and defective bead construction—can cause sudden, catastrophic blowouts.
These failures typically occur at highway speeds, resulting in loss of vehicle control, rollover accidents and multi-vehicle collisions.
Tire defect claims often center on manufacturing errors, substandard materials or inadequate quality control processes.
Faulty Brakes
Brake defects — whether caused by hydraulic failures, faulty ABS modules or defective brake pads—can significantly increase stopping distances or cause complete brake loss.
Even a fraction-of-a-second delay in braking response can escalate the severity of a crash.
In litigation, these cases frequently involve inadequate design testing or the failure to recall known defective components.
Car Fire and Electric Vehicle Fires
Fuel system defects, electrical system failures and battery design flaws can all lead to post-collision or spontaneous fires.
Fires involving electric vehicles are especially dangerous, as lithium-ion batteries can undergo thermal runaway—burning at extreme temperatures and reigniting after being extinguished.
These cases often involve failures to meet FMVSS 301 (fuel system integrity) or inadequate battery management systems.
Seat Belt Injury
Seat belt systems are intended to restrain and protect occupants during a crash. Defects such as false latching, webbing failure or retractor malfunction can result in partial or complete ejection, severe internal injuries or fatal head trauma.
Seat belt defect claims typically focus on compliance with FMVSS 209 and 210, and whether the restraint system performed as required under crash conditions.
Roof Collapse
In rollover accidents, a properly designed roof should withstand crash forces and maintain survivable space. Roof collapse can lead to catastrophic spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and fatalities.
In many cases, roof defect claims involve violations of FMVSS 216A or evidence that manufacturers failed to adequately prioritize occupant protection during vehicle design and testing.
Lack of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Rollover Risk
ESC systems are required under federal safety regulations to prevent rollovers and loss-of-control crashes. Vehicles lacking ESC—or equipped with defective ESC modules—are significantly more likely to skid, slide and overturn during emergency maneuvers.
Litigation often focuses on the manufacturer’s failure to incorporate mandated rollover prevention technologies.
Lack of Side Curtain Airbags
Side curtain airbags protect occupants’ heads during side impacts and rollovers. Vehicles missing this protection—or equipped with malfunctioning airbags—leave occupants vulnerable to fatal or disabling brain and cervical spine injuries.
Crashworthiness claims often arise when manufacturers omit side curtain airbags from certain models or trim levels despite foreseeable side impact risks.
Lack of Lane Departure Warning
Lane departure warning systems are intended to alert drivers before unintentional lane drift leads to a collision. Vehicles without this feature—or with disabled or malfunctioning warning systems—may expose occupants to preventable side-impact or roadway departure crashes.
Claims frequently involve manufacturers who failed to offer this technology as standard equipment despite its proven effectiveness.
Lack of Lane Keep Assist
Lane keep assist systems not only detect drift but actively correct steering to prevent unintended lane exits. Vehicles lacking functioning lane-keep assist systems increase the risk of roadway departure accidents, collisions with adjacent vehicles and catastrophic head-on crashes.
Litigation often arises when these features were advertised but failed to operate as intended.
Lack of Forward Collision Warning
Forward collision warning (FCW) systems detect impending collisions and alert drivers with enough time to avoid or mitigate impact. Missing, disabled or malfunctioning FCW systems eliminate this critical window of response—leading to rear-end collisions at higher speeds and greater injury severity.
Claims focus on the absence of required advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in vehicles marketed as safe.
Injuries Caused by Auto Defects
Auto defects can turn survivable crashes into life-altering tragedies. At Lucas Law Firm, we represent individuals and families facing catastrophic injuries where a hidden defect made the difference between a minor collision and a devastating outcome.
Common injuries in defective car cases include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Amputations and crush injuries
- Severe burns and disfigurement
- Loss of vision or blindness
- Wrongful death
In these cases, the injury is only part of the story. Our role as your defective car attorney is to identify how the defect—not just the impact—caused or worsened the harm, and to hold the responsible parties fully accountable.
Proving Auto Defect Liability
Auto defect litigation demands more than showing an injury occurred. To succeed, you must establish that:
- A vehicle or component contained a defect
- The defect rendered the vehicle unreasonably dangerous
- The defect directly caused or worsened the injuries sustained
At Lucas Law Firm, our experienced personal injury attorneys build every case for trial by:
- Analyzing internal manufacturer records and safety testing data
- Reviewing regulatory filings and crash databases
- Investigating prior consumer complaints and recall history
- Downloading and interpreting black box (EDR) crash data
- Working with nationally recognized automotive engineers and accident reconstruction experts
We approach liability methodically—because proving auto defect liability requires more than theory. It requires evidence that stands up in court.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
If you’ve been injured—or lost a loved one—because of an auto defect, you may be entitled to significant compensation. A Lucas Law Firm auto defect attorney pursues recovery for:
- Emergency medical care, hospitalization and long-term rehabilitation
- Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity
- Physical pain, emotional distress and reduced quality of life
- Permanent disability, disfigurement and required home modifications
- Wrongful death benefits for surviving family members
- Punitive damages where gross negligence or concealment is proven
Our goal is not simply to settle. It is to obtain a result that reflects the full extent of the losses suffered and provides a path forward.
- Medical care and long-term rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability and required home modifications
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family
- Punitive damages in cases of gross negligence or concealment
We fight for every dollar our clients need to rebuild—not just survive
Speak with a Defective Car Attorney at Lucas Law Firm
If you believe a vehicle defect contributed to serious injuries or a fatal crash, a timely and thorough investigation is critical. Key evidence—including black box data, component failures, and internal manufacturer records—can be lost without immediate action.
From our offices in Kansas City, Lucas Law Firm represents clients nationwide in defective car and auto product liability claims. We welcome referrals from attorneys seeking experienced trial counsel for complex auto defect cases.
Call (816) 729-9999 or contact us online to schedule a confidential case review with an experienced defective car attorney.