Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer
Brake failure, a failed airbag, a tire blowout, or a recalled part? Nevada strict liability law holds manufacturers responsible. We preserve the vehicle fast, and you pay nothing unless we win.
When a vehicle defect causes a crash in Las Vegas, the manufacturer can be held liable, along with the parts supplier, the distributor, and the dealership that sold the vehicle. Under Nevada strict liability law, you do not have to prove the company was careless. You have to show the vehicle was defective and the defect caused your injuries.
That makes this a different kind of claim from an ordinary crash. The defendant is a corporation, not another driver, and the key evidence is the vehicle itself. A defective vehicle accident lawyer in Las Vegas starts by identifying which of three defect types applies, because each one is proven differently.
| Defect type | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Design defect | Every vehicle in the line is unsafe because of how it was designed. | A fuel tank placed where a rear impact can rupture it, or a roof that crushes in a rollover. |
| Manufacturing defect | The design was safe, but this vehicle or part was built wrong. | A brake line with a flaw from the factory, or an airbag inflator assembled incorrectly. |
| Failure to warn | The company knew of a hazard and gave no adequate warning or instructions. | A known tire tread problem with no warning to owners about the risk at highway speed. |
Nevada measures a defect by what an ordinary driver would expect. A vehicle is defective if it fails to perform as safely as a reasonable person would expect when used the way it was meant to be used.
If the other driver was also at fault, you may have two claims: one against the driver and one against the manufacturer. Missing the second one can leave most of your recovery on the table.
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More than one company can be liable for a defective vehicle crash in Nevada. Strict liability can reach every business in the chain that put the vehicle on the road, from the factory to the showroom. A vehicle defect lawyer in Las Vegas identifies each one, because every added defendant is another source of recovery.
The automaker is responsible for the design and final assembly of the vehicle. If the defect traces to how the vehicle was designed or built, the manufacturer is the primary defendant.
Airbags, tires, brakes, and seat belts are often made by a separate company. When one of those parts fails, the company that made it can be liable alongside the automaker.
A dealer that sells a defective vehicle is part of the chain of distribution. A dealer can also be liable for selling a vehicle with an open safety recall it knew about or should have fixed.
If a shop installed a part wrong or skipped a recall repair, the claim is negligence, not strict liability. You have to show the shop failed to do the work with reasonable care.
A defect and a careless driver can cause the same crash. The claim against the driver runs alongside the claim against the manufacturer, and each is proven on its own evidence.
In most Nevada injury cases, each defendant pays only its own share of fault. Product defect claims are an exception under NRS 41.141, so a manufacturer can be held responsible for the full amount of your damages.
Manufacturers and their insurers fight defective vehicle claims by blaming the driver, the vehicle's upkeep, or missing evidence. Attorney Glen Howard worked on the insurance defense side before founding Howard Injury Law, so he knows how insurers build these arguments and how early they start.
You braked late, steered wrong, or were going too fast. The vehicle worked as designed.
The vehicle's data recorder, the failed part, and an engineer's inspection show what the vehicle did in the seconds before the crash.
Aftermarket parts, skipped service, or worn components caused the failure, not the factory.
The defense only works if the change caused the failure. Service records and inspection of the part itself usually answer that.
You used the vehicle in a way the manufacturer never intended.
Manufacturers must design for uses they can reasonably foresee, including ordinary driver mistakes and highway speeds.
The vehicle was repaired, sold for salvage, or scrapped, so no one can show what failed.
This is the most common way these claims are lost. A written preservation demand sent early keeps the vehicle from being altered or destroyed.
A recall was issued, so the company did its part, or you ignored the notice.
A recall does not release a manufacturer from liability for injuries. It can show the company knew about the defect.
Each of these arguments is built in the first days after a crash. A defective vehicle attorney in Las Vegas has to secure the vehicle and its data before the other side defines what happened.
“I spent years on the insurance defense side, so here’s what most people never hear: the first question isn’t who was driving. It’s what the vehicle did. The insurer starts building a driver-error story on day one, and counts on the vehicle being repaired or scrapped before anyone looks closely.
You trusted that vehicle to work. You focus on healing. Securing the evidence and holding every company that owes you to what it owes is our job.”
A defective vehicle claim is proven with the vehicle itself, its electronic data, and the manufacturer's own records. The vehicle is the single most important piece of evidence, and it is usually the first to disappear. A defective vehicle lawyer in Las Vegas starts by sending written preservation demands to everyone who has access to it.
| Evidence | Who holds it | How fast it disappears |
|---|---|---|
| The vehicle and the failed part | You, a tow yard, a body shop, or the insurance company | Days to weeks. A totaled vehicle can be sold at a salvage auction soon after the insurer takes possession. |
| Event data recorder ("black box") | Stored inside the vehicle | Lost if the vehicle is scrapped. Some data can be overwritten if the vehicle is driven again. |
| NHTSA complaints and recall records | The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | Public and permanent. They show whether other drivers reported the same failure. |
| Technical service bulletins | The manufacturer and its dealers | Stay on file. They can show the company knew about a problem before your crash. |
| Maintenance and repair records | You, your dealership, or your mechanic | Shops keep records for limited periods. Gather yours now. |
| Internal design and testing documents | The manufacturer | Only available through a lawsuit. This is where prior knowledge of a defect is usually proven. |
Here is how this typically plays out. A driver's brakes fail on the freeway and the crash looks like driver error. The insurer declares the vehicle a total loss and schedules it for auction. A preservation demand stops the sale. An engineer then inspects the brake system and finds a hydraulic line with a manufacturing flaw. Without that inspection, there is no defect claim.
This is an illustrative example, not a description of a specific case or result.
Investigating a defective vehicle case goes well beyond a standard crash reconstruction. Automotive engineers inspect the vehicle at the mechanical and metallurgical level, looking for manufacturing flaws, design problems, and departures from the manufacturer's specifications. Accident reconstructionists tie the defect to the sequence of the crash, and medical experts connect the injuries to the system that failed.
Do not let anyone repair, sell, or release your vehicle until a lawyer has reviewed your case, including your own insurance company.
After a crash you think was caused by a vehicle defect, get medical care, keep the vehicle exactly as it is, and save every part and record. These six steps protect your health first and the evidence your claim depends on.
Call 911 and get checked the same day, even if you feel fine. Tell the officer exactly what the vehicle did, such as brakes that did not respond or an airbag that did not deploy.
The vehicle is the most important evidence you have. Tell the tow yard and every insurance company in writing that it must be kept in its current condition.
Save tire pieces, the airbag module, and any part that broke or came off. If a shop already removed something, ask for it back and do not let it be thrown away.
Take photos of the vehicle inside and out, the failed part, dashboard warning lights, the crash scene, and your injuries. Photos taken before the vehicle is moved are the most useful.
Collect your purchase or lease papers, service records, and any recall notices. Look up your vehicle identification number on the NHTSA recall website and save the results.
Nevada gives you two years to file under NRS 11.190(4)(e), and the vehicle can be gone within weeks. Our Las Vegas motor vehicle accident lawyers handle defective vehicle claims and can send preservation demands right away.
Two years from the date of the injury in most cases, under NRS 11.190(4)(e). The practical deadline is much shorter. The vehicle is the main evidence, and it can be repaired, sold for salvage, or scrapped within weeks of the crash. Have your case reviewed before the vehicle changes hands.
Yes. A recall does not release a manufacturer from liability for injuries its defect caused. If you were hurt before the recall was issued, the recall can show the company knew about the problem. If you were hurt after it, the timing of the notice and the repair matters. A lawyer can review how the recall timeline affects your claim.
You may still have a claim. Federal law requires manufacturers to notify registered owners of safety recalls. If the notice never reached you, the failure to warn can become part of your case. Keep any mail you did receive, and check your vehicle identification number on the NHTSA recall website.
You may. Airbags are designed to deploy in moderate to severe frontal crashes. When one fails to deploy in that kind of crash, or deploys with too much force, the cause can be a defect in the sensor, the control module, or the inflator. The claim can run against the airbag maker as well as the automaker. Read more about the Takata airbag recall.
You may still have a claim. In a claim against another driver, NRS 41.141 reduces your compensation by your share of fault and bars recovery if you were more than 50% at fault. A strict liability claim against a manufacturer is treated differently under Nevada law, and the main defenses there are misuse or alteration of the vehicle. Have a lawyer review both claims before you accept a fault percentage from an insurer.
Yes. Passengers can bring a product liability claim directly against the vehicle manufacturer or the parts maker. Your recovery is not limited to the driver's insurance policy, and you do not have to show the driver did anything wrong.
Not until a lawyer has reviewed your case. Once an insurer takes a totaled vehicle, it can be sold at a salvage auction and the evidence of the defect is lost. Tell the insurer and the tow yard in writing that the vehicle must be kept in its current condition, and do not sign the title over.
Nothing upfront. Howard Injury Law works on contingency, which means no retainer, no hourly fees, and no cost at all unless we win your case. The consultation is free, and if we do not recover for you, you owe us nothing.
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Howard Injury Law represents people injured by defective vehicles and parts in Las Vegas and across Nevada. Your case review is free, and you pay nothing unless we win.
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I had a great experience with Howard Injury Law. Anytime I had questions, they were always there with an answer ready to help. They were super attentive towards me. I'm very grateful I went to them after my car accident.
Car AccidentHighly recommend. I worked with James and Vanessa. They both are very nice and patient if or when you have a million and one questions. They make sure you are updated and not wondering where you stand.
Personal InjuryI can't say enough great things about Howard Injury Law. From start to finish, Glenn Howard and his amazing team James and Natalie were there every step of the way. They made a stressful situation feel manageable ... read more
Injury CaseI would like to thank Glen Howard and James for taking such great care of me during my case. They're knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely caring. My family and I are truly grateful for the outcome they achieved.
Injury CaseThis team was amazing. They took care of everything I needed with my personal injury and made it so easy for me. I never felt alone during the process. I would highly recommend Howard Injury Law to anyone.
Personal InjuryI had a really bad accident in March 2023 and was referred to this amazing team. This being a new experience, Howard Injury Law walked me through every single step. They truly fought for me and got me more than I expected.
Car AccidentStraight answers to what you're facing after a Las Vegas crash caused by a vehicle defect — so you understand your options before you decide anything.
Founding attorney Glen Howard has spent his career standing beside Las Vegas crash victims and families after serious collisions turned their lives upside down — and that's shaped the compassion he brings to every case. He and his team understand that a defective vehicle crash isn't a case file; it's a life-changing event for you and the people who love you, and it's treated that way here. He has recovered more than $80 million for injury victims and their families, and you'll work directly with Glen and a dedicated case manager who handle you with care and respect — not a rotating cast of paralegals.
Read Glen's full storyYou never expected to be here. No one is supposed to know how to fight an insurance company, preserve evidence, or navigate Nevada injury law while recovering from a serious crash.
That's what we do.
Howard Injury Law is available 24/7. The consultation is free and confidential. You pay nothing unless we recover for you. And because Nevada sets a deadline to act, reaching out sooner keeps more of your options open. However you found us — searching for a defective vehicle accident lawyer in Las Vegas, or referred by someone who trusted us with their case — we're ready when you are, and there's no pressure to decide anything today.
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Howard Injury Law
6330 Spring Mountain Rd Ste D, Las Vegas, NV 89146