On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, Tesla issued a recall that affects 1.85 million of their vehicles. According to the recall, number #SB-24-00-012, the affected vehicles have issues with software that could cause a failure to detect unlatched hoods; this poses a risk of hoods opening while driving and causing crashes and even injuries.
In a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) post, more details about the recall were available. The NHTSA warned drivers that an “unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver’s view and increasing the risk of a crash.” The recall affects certain vehicles of the following Tesla models:
- 2020 – 2024 Model Y
- 2021 – 2024 Model 3
- 2021 – 2024 Model S
- 2021 – 2024 Model X
Reportedly, Tesla launched an investigation after consumers in China started complaining of hoods opening back in late March 2024. According to Tesla, the recall was issued out of caution. Tesla is expected to mail out notification letters in September 2024. According to Tesla, they have received at least three reports of the hood issue among U.S. consumers; however, there have been no reports of crashes or injuries caused by the defect.
Of course, it is possible for there to be unreported incidents and injuries. If you or a member of your family suffered harm as a result of the defect present in the Tesla software, you could have the right to pursue a claim. It is important that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible to learn more about the legal options available to you.
Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our personal injury lawyers have decades of experience and are more than ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to fight for your rights. Our team is not afraid to take on any negligent entity to fight for the rights of our clients. If you are ready to explore the legal options available to you, contact us today.
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Defective Tesla Hood Incidents Can Lead to Injuries
As explained above, when the hood is unlatched (and software fails to detect/warn about it), the hood can suddenly open and completely block a driver’s view. This can lead to a crash and injuries. More specifically, if the hood opens up and blocks the view, drivers could crash into other objects or objects. Some drivers may panic and slam on their breaks, resulting in sudden stops and rear-end accidents.
Although every incident is different, some of the possible injuries that could occur could include the following:
- Head injuries (including concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and more)
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries (which could lead to paralysis)
- Shoulder injuries
- Pelvic injuries
- Hip injuries
- Knee injuries
- Fractures and dislocations
- Nerve injuries, muscle injuries, and ligament injuries
- Impalement injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Lacerations
- Road burn
- Scrapes and bruises
Regardless of the specific injuries that you or a member of your family suffered in a Tesla accident caused by a defect, you could have the right to pursue a claim for all resulting damages.
Do I have the Right to File a Lawsuit?
Yes, you could have the right to file a lawsuit for the harm that you suffered. You could sue on the basis of negligence, specifically product liability. Under product liability, all product manufacturers have a duty to keep their products free of hazards or defects that could lead to incidents before making them available to consumers. When these product manufacturers fail to identify and address defects, they can be found negligent and can be sued for all damages resulting the incident. For more information about your right to file a lawsuit for injuries caused by a defective Tesla, contact us today.
Could I file a lemon law claim? This is a very important question. If your vehicle meets the definition of a lemon, you could pursue a lemon law claim and recover compensation, which could include all payments already made on the vehicle, all out-of-pocket costs for repairs, or even a replacement vehicle. For more information about your right to file a lemon law claim, contact us today.
Can I Recover Compensation?
Yes – if you or your family suffered harm after an incident caused by a Tesla hood opening while driving, you could have grounds to sue and receive compensation. Some of the categories of compensation available for recovery can include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost pay
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Punitive damages
- Legal expenses
How much can I recover? Every claim is different, so it can be very difficult and often misleading to place a value on a claim without a thorough case evaluation. In general, these cases can be worth anywhere from $150,000 to $750,000 and sometimes more. These cases can be worth up to $5 million. For a better understanding of the possible value of your claim, contact us for a case evaluation.
Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our defective auto accident lawyers are ready to fight for your rights and help you recover the highest payout available. You can be certain that our lawyers will do everything within our reach to secure the recovery that you are owed.
Filing Your Claim On Time
All claims are subject to a statute of limitations, which determines the time that claimants have to sue. In California, personal injury claims and wrongful death claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations, meaning that you will only have two years to pursue your claim. What happens if I do not file my claim against Tesla on time? Unfortunately, missing the filing deadline can result in losing the right to sue entirely. Contact us today to learn more about the time that you have to sue.
Contact the Experts at Normandie Law Firm Today
If you or your family were harmed due to a defective Tesla with hood issues, you could have the right to file a lawsuit and receive compensation. If you are interested in learning more about the legal options available to you, contact us today. Our team here at the Normandie Law Firm have decades of experience and are committed to getting our clients justice. Our team is ready to protect your rights and help you sue Tesla. Our team is committed to remaining accessible, so we offer free case evaluations. These include free initial consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our legal team will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns – our team will be available to provide you with all the information that you need to start or continue your claim. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Zero-Fee Guarantee: you will never be required to pay upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. In addition, we work on contingency, so you will not be responsible for paying anything if your claim is not successful.
Contact us today to learn more about our Tesla defect injury lawsuit lawyers.
