Defective Auto Parts Claims in Arizona
When a tire blows out, an airbag fails to deploy or deploys violently, brakes fail, or another auto part is defective, the maker of that part can be responsible — separately from any driver's fault. These claims often overlap with a car accident case.
Common defective auto parts
Tires that fail or delaminate, airbags that do not deploy or deploy dangerously, defective brakes, seatbelts that fail, faulty accelerators, and defective components can all cause or worsen a crash. When the part itself was defective, a product claim may exist alongside any driver claim.
Preserving the vehicle and part
The vehicle and the failed part are critical evidence and must be preserved before repair, scrapping, or a tow yard disposes of them. Acting quickly to secure them is often what makes a defective-parts claim possible.
How we help
We preserve the vehicle and part, arrange expert analysis, and identify the part maker and others in the chain. The review is free and confidential. Se habla español.
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Frequently asked questions
My tire blew out and caused a crash. Is that a product claim?
It can be. If the tire was defective — a failure or delamination not caused by ordinary wear or a road hazard — the maker may be responsible, alongside any other cause. Preserving the tire and vehicle is essential.
My airbag did not deploy in a serious crash. Do I have a case?
Possibly. An airbag that fails to deploy when it should, or deploys defectively, can support a product claim against its maker. Expert analysis of the airbag system, which must be preserved, assesses it.
My tire blew out and caused a crash. Is that a product claim?
It can be. If the tire was defective — a failure or delamination not caused by ordinary wear or a road hazard — the maker may be responsible, alongside any other cause. Preserving the tire and vehicle is essential.
My airbag did not deploy in a serious crash. Do I have a case?
Possibly. An airbag that fails to deploy when it should, or deploys defectively, can support a product claim against its maker. Expert analysis of the airbag system, which must be preserved, assesses it.
Can I have both a car accident claim and a product claim?
Yes. A defective part claim against the maker can exist alongside a claim against an at-fault driver. They can be pursued together, and identifying every source of recovery is part of the work.
What should I do with my vehicle after a parts failure?
Do not repair or scrap it, and make sure a tow yard does not dispose of it. The vehicle and the failed part are critical evidence, so securing them quickly is one of the most important steps.
How long do I have to file a product liability claim in Arizona?
Product cases can involve two deadlines: the ordinary statute of limitations that runs from your injury, and — in some states — a statute of repose that can bar a claim a set number of years after the product was first sold. Because a missed deadline can end a claim, get a review right away.
Do I have to prove the company was careless?
Often no. In a strict-liability product case, you generally have to prove the product was defective and that the defect caused your injury — not that the company was negligent. That is a key difference from many other injury claims.
What should I do with the product that hurt me?
Keep it, and do not repair, alter, or throw it away. The product itself is usually the most important evidence, so preserve it exactly as it is, along with the packaging, manuals, and receipt. Losing the product can seriously weaken a claim.
Who can I sue for a defective product?
Under strict products liability, everyone in the chain — the manufacturer, component makers, the distributor, and the retailer that sold it — can potentially be responsible, giving you more than one path to recovery.
How much is a product liability case worth?
It depends on the severity of the injury, future care, lost income, the strength of the defect evidence, and the responsible parties — there is no fixed formula. Anyone who quotes a number before the product and experts are reviewed is guessing.
How much does a product liability lawyer cost?
We handle these cases on a contingency basis, which means no fee unless we recover, and the initial review is always free. Product cases are expensive to bring — they require engineering and expert analysis — and we advance those costs so you can pursue a claim.
The product had a warning label. Can I still have a claim?
Possibly. A warning must be adequate — clear and complete enough to actually convey the danger. A vague, hidden, or incomplete warning may not be enough, and the product may also have a design or manufacturing defect regardless of the label.
The manufacturer says I misused the product. Is that the end?
Not necessarily. Misuse is a common defense, but a maker must also account for foreseeable misuse, and whether you actually misused the product is a factual question answered with the evidence and experts.
What if the product was recalled?
A recall can be useful evidence that a product was defective and that the maker knew of a danger, but it does not automatically win a claim — you still must prove the defect caused your injury. And the absence of a recall does not mean a product was safe.
How long do these cases take?
Product cases are complex and often take longer than other injury claims — engineering analysis, expert work, and aggressive defense all add time. We keep you informed at each step rather than leaving you guessing.
Do I really need a lawyer for a product case?
These cases require preserving the product, engineering and expert analysis, and identifying every company in the chain, and manufacturers defend them hard. Handling one without experienced help is very difficult. A free review is a no-pressure way to learn where you stand.
Arizona law — what people ask
How long do I have to file an injury claim in Arizona?
Generally two years. But if a public entity is involved you must serve a formal notice of claim within 180 days and file suit within one year — and Arizona runs a much shorter one-year clock on dog-bite strict-liability claims specifically.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault in Arizona?
Yes. Arizona applies pure comparative negligence, so fault reduces your recovery rather than ending the claim, and there is no percentage at which it cuts off. Arizona also treats fault questions as belonging to the jury rather than being resolved beforehand.
Does Arizona cap what I can recover?
No — and this sets Arizona apart from most states. Its constitution prohibits laws limiting damages for injury or death, and that applies to medical-malpractice claims too, where most states impose a cap. If you have read that pain and suffering is capped, that is not Arizona law.
What if more than one party was responsible?
Arizona generally applies several liability, so each responsible party answers for its own share rather than the whole judgment. That makes identifying every responsible party early a practical question about what is actually collectible.
The driver who hit me had no insurance. What now?
Your own uninsured or underinsured coverage is the usual route. Arizona also requires insurers to offer that coverage in writing — so if you were told your policy carries none, the underwriting file is worth checking before that answer is accepted.
Will the jury hear that my health insurance paid my bills?
Usually not — Arizona generally follows the collateral source rule. Medical-negligence cases are the statutory exception, where that evidence has been made admissible, which changes how medical damages are presented in those claims specifically.
Injury law in Arizona
Arizona injury law has some features that set it apart from its neighbors.
- Filing deadline: Arizona generally gives you two years from the injury to file, but only 180 days to serve a notice of claim on a public entity.
- Fault: Arizona follows pure comparative negligence — being partly, or even mostly, at fault reduces your recovery but does not bar it.
- Damage caps: Arizona is unusual: its constitution prohibits caps on injury or death damages, so a statutory cap does not limit what you can recover.
- Multiple defendants: Arizona generally applies several (not joint) liability, so each responsible party is accountable for its own share.
Related product liability types
California injury law
This is general information about Arizona injury law, not legal advice. Every case is different.
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