Paul Walker, star of the Fast and Furious movie franchise, died at the beginning of December when his high-performance sports car slid off the road and exploded. His friend, Roger Rodas, was driving at the time of the accident.
It will be months before authorities piece together the cause of the accident, but one expert believes that reflectors embedded in the road may have cause Walker’s car to lose traction. Mr. Walker’s car was a Porsche Carrera GT that was outfitted with a type of racing tire which, when combined with the reflectors and a high rate of speed, could have caused the driver to lose control. That particular Porsche model is known to be particularly challenging to drive, as well. Porsche even released a memo to its dealers warning about control problems with the car and advising that drivers be aware of road conditions.
What happens if you are injured in an accident with a driver who loses control of his or her vehicle? Regardless of whether reflectors in the road or another factor contributed to an accident, a driver who is exceeding the speed limit, or driving too fast for road conditions may still be at fault for the accident. When the vehicle suffers a malfunction, responsibility for the accident could lay at the driver’s or the manufacturer’s feet. A driver is responsible for maintaining their vehicle in safe working conditions, but manufacturers can also be held liable when their products, including cars, are defective, causing an accident.
Unraveling the complex facts that contributed to your car accident can be daunting, but you don’t have to go it alone. A St. Louis car accident attorney can help you evaluate your accident, and help you determine whether you may have a right to compensation for your injuries.