Practice area
San Diego Auto Defect Attorney
A defective vehicle or component can cause a crash, or make the injuries from a collision far more severe. Faulty brakes, tires, airbags, seatbacks, restraint systems, steering components, and other automotive defects can lead to catastrophic injuries, permanent disability, or death.
Hulburt Law Firm represents people and families after serious injuries and deaths caused or worsened by defective cars, trucks, motorcycles, and vehicle components. We investigate the defect, preserve key evidence, and identify the manufacturers, suppliers, dealerships, repair facilities, and other parties that may be responsible.
Injured as a result of an auto defect? Get help today.
Auto Defect Cases We Handle
Auto defects can cause a crash, prevent a vehicle from responding safely, or make the resulting injuries far more severe. The type of defect often determines which evidence must be preserved, which experts are needed, and which manufacturers, suppliers, dealerships, or repair facilities may be responsible.
Hulburt Law Firm handles serious auto defect cases involving unsafe tires, brakes, airbags, seatbacks, restraint systems, steering components, fuel systems, vehicle structures, and other defective automotive products.
Defective Brakes, Steering and Stability Systems
Tire Failures and Tread Separations
Airbag and Restraint System Failures
Seatback and Head Restraint Failures
Fuel System, Fire and Post-Crash Safety Defects
Rollover and Roof-Crush Cases
Autonomous Driving Failures
Meet Your Auto Defect Attorneys
Conor Hulburt and Leslie Hulburt founded Hulburt Law Firm to represent people and families harmed by defective vehicles and automotive components. Auto defect cases require careful preservation of the vehicle, qualified engineering analysis, and the ability to obtain and explain technical evidence often controlled by manufacturers and suppliers.
Conor has substantial experience taking on major vehicle and component manufacturers, including Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Continental Tires. His automotive defect results include a $25.36 million recovery after a sudden tire failure caused a fatal crash, a $5 million recovery for a client left paralyzed after a passenger seatback collapsed, and a $3.01 million recovery for a driver who suffered a spinal cord injury after his head restraint failed in a rear-end collision. He was named the 2027 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs in San Diego.
Leslie brings substantial litigation and trial experience to the firm’s serious injury and wrongful death cases and plays a central role in developing the facts, expert evidence, legal strategy, and presentation of complex product liability claims.
Together, Conor and Leslie work to preserve the critical evidence, uncover what failed and why, identify every responsible manufacturer and supplier, and develop each auto defect case to achieve the best possible outcome.
Auto Defect Case Results
Our experienced attorneys have a proven track record of achieving extraordinary results in automotive defect cases.
Fatal Tire Failure
A sudden tire failure caused an SUV to fishtail and crash into a tree on the side of a San Diego County highway, killing a beloved husband and father.
Auto Defect
A passenger seatback collapsed in a rear-end collision, causing the occupant life-changing spinal injuries and paralysis.
Auto Defect
The driver's head restraint broke off when he was rear-ended at high speed on the 15 freeway, causing the driver to suffer a spinal cord injury and paralysis.
How a San Diego Auto Defect Case Works
Free Case Review
During your free case review, we listen to what happened, what injuries you are facing, and why you believe a vehicle or component may have failed. We review any available photographs, police reports, repair records, recall information, medical records, and insurance communications and give you an honest assessment of the case.
Evidence Preservation
Preserving the vehicle is the first priority. The vehicle and failed components should not be repaired, altered, sold for salvage, or destroyed before they are properly documented and inspected. We may also preserve electronic vehicle data, tires, airbags, seatbelts, seats, damaged parts, maintenance records, photographs, video, and other crash evidence.
Expert Inspection
Qualified engineers and other experts may inspect the vehicle, analyze the crash, test failed components, and evaluate whether the vehicle was reasonably safe. Depending on the case, the investigation may address tire failure, braking or steering performance, restraint systems, roof strength, post-crash fire, electronic systems, or whether a safer practical design was available.
Responsible Parties
Auto defect cases may involve the vehicle manufacturer, component suppliers, dealerships, distributors, repair facilities, or others connected to the vehicle’s design, manufacture, sale, or maintenance. We identify all potentially responsible parties and available insurance coverage and determine whether driver negligence, roadway conditions, or another cause also contributed to the crash or injuries.
Settlement Negotiations
Once the technical evidence and damages are sufficiently developed, we present what failed, why the defect mattered, and how the crash affected the client’s health, work, family, and future. We handle communications with manufacturers, insurers, and defense lawyers, challenge efforts to blame the driver or minimize the injuries, and keep the client informed about settlement offers and options.
Litigation and Trial Representation
If the responsible companies and insurers are unwilling to resolve the case fairly, we are prepared to file a lawsuit. Litigation may involve vehicle inspections, expert testing, corporate records, written discovery, depositions, motions, mediation, and trial preparation. At trial, we use testimony, physical evidence, engineering analysis, electronic data, and visual presentations to explain what failed, why the vehicle was not reasonably safe, and how the defect caused or worsened the injuries.
California Auto Defect Law
California auto defect cases are generally governed by product liability law. A claim may involve a design defect, manufacturing defect, or inadequate warning about a known or foreseeable risk. The overview below explains the principal legal issues that may arise in a serious automotive defect case.
Strict Liability for Defective Vehicles and Parts
Crashworthiness: When the Defect Did Not Cause the Crash
Federal Safety Standards and Their Limits
Recalls: Useful Evidence, Not a Requirement
Preserving the Vehicle
Deadlines to File an Auto Defect Claim in California
The Hulburt Law Difference
In-Depth Investigations
We preserve and examine the vehicle, failed components, electronic data, repair history, recalls, and other evidence to understand what failed and why.
Tech-Forward Approach
Auto defect cases often involve engineering, crash dynamics, electronic data, and complex timelines. We use technology and visual presentation to make that evidence clear.
Maximum Compensation
Defense attorneys and insurance companies know us and respect us. We assess the full extent of your damages and pursue all responsible parties in order to maximize the compensation you deserve.
The Right Experience
Our attorneys have taken on Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Continental Tires, and other major manufacturers in serious automotive product liability cases.
Genuine Care
A serious auto defect injury can overwhelm a person. We keep clients informed, prepare carefully, and take the time to understand how the injury has affected their health, work, family, and future.
Auto Defect FAQs
What is an auto defect under California law?
How do I know if I have an auto defect case?
What should I do with my vehicle if I suspect an auto defect?
What evidence is important in an auto defect case?
Can I still have an auto defect case if another driver caused the crash?
What if there was a recall I never knew about?
What if my loved one died in a crash involving a suspected auto defect?
What compensation may be available in an auto defect case?
How long do I have to file an auto defect lawsuit in California?
How much does it cost to hire Hulburt Law Firm?
Serving Clients Across San Diego County
Hulburt Law Firm represents people and families after serious injuries and deaths caused or worsened by defective vehicles and automotive components across San Diego County, including San Diego, Chula Vista, National City, La Mesa, El Cajon, Santee, Poway, Escondido, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, and surrounding communities.
Request a Free Case Review
Simply fill out the form or call 619.821.0500 to receive a free case review. We’ll evaluate what happened, your injuries, and potential defendants to determine how we can best help you.
Hulburt Law Firm handles serious personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout San Diego County.
