Auto Defect & Vehicle Safety Litigation
When a “Survivable” Crash Becomes a Tragedy, It’s Often a Defect.
If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury in an accident that should have been survivable, the vehicle’s safety systems may have failed you. At Nigh Goldenberg Raso & Vaughn, we look past the police report to hold multi-billion-dollar manufacturers accountable for prioritizing profits over passenger safety.
The Evidence Warning
⚠️ URGENT: The 72-Hour Evidence Window
In auto defect litigation, the vehicle is your “star witness.” Insurance companies move quickly to total, salvage, and crush cars within days of an accident. Once the vehicle is gone, the evidence of a collapsed seat, a failed sensor, or a defective tire is gone forever. Contact us immediately so we can file a formal Preservation Letter to secure the vehicle.
We investigate the “Hidden Failures” that general personal injury firms often overlook.
1. Seat Back Failures & Spinal Injuries
Modern seats in “fuel-efficient” vehicles often lack structural integrity. In rear-end impacts, the seat frame can snap, launching the occupant backward. This often results in permanent paralysis (quadriplegia/paraplegia).
Read our full report on Seat Back Defects
2. Airbag & Sensor Failures
Whether it is the “GM Sensor Defect” leaving rear passengers unprotected or “Late Deployment” that turns a safety device into a projectile, we download and analyze the Event Data Recorder (EDR) to find the truth.
Is your Airbag Failure a known defect?
3. UTV & Side-by-Side Rollovers
Manufacturers frequently blame “driver error” for trail accidents. However, many UTVs are designed with a dangerously high center of gravity and Rollover Protection Systems (ROPS) that fail under the vehicle’s own weight.
Holding UTV manufacturers accountable for tip-overs
4. Keyless Ignition & CO Poisoning
A $0 software update for an “Auto-Shut Off” timer could prevent families from being poisoned by carbon monoxide in their own homes. We represent victims of this predictable design failure.
The Silent Danger of Keyless Ignitions
5. Tire Defects & Negligent Installation
We investigate tread separation and “New on Rear” installation errors. If a shop installed your tires incorrectly or a manufacturer used rusted steel belts, the accident wasn’t your fault.
Why tire placement matters on wet roads
Challenging the “Lawn Chair” Standard
Manufacturers often argue that their vehicles met “Federal Safety Standards.” We believe those standards are the bare minimum. Industry experts have proven that some federal tests are so weak that even a common lawn chair could pass them. We use independent engineering experts and crash-test simulations to prove that “government-approved” does not mean “safe.”
Why Nigh Goldenberg Raso & Vaughn?
- Engineering-First Approach: We partner with specialized engineers to inspect your vehicle’s structural integrity and data logs.
- National Litigation Strength: We go head-to-head with the largest automakers in the world, including GM, Ford, Toyota, and Polaris.
- No Upfront Costs: We front all costs for vehicle recovery and expert analysis. You only pay if we secure a recovery for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
The police report blamed me for the crash. Do I still have a case?
Yes. Police officers are trained to look for driver error, not engineering defects. We look at why the safety systems (like seats or airbags) failed to protect you after the initial impact.
What if my vehicle has already been sold or scrapped?
Contact us immediately. While the physical car is best, we may still be able to use hospital records, scene photos, and VIN-specific manufacturing data to build your claim.
How do I know if my vehicle has a “Black Box”?
Almost all vehicles made after 2006 have an Event Data Recorder (EDR). We have the technology to download this data to see the exact millisecond your airbags were triggered—or why they weren’t.
