Not all injuries from car accidents are caused by impact alone. In rare cases, a medical device worn or implanted by one of the people involved malfunctions during or after the crash. As a car accident lawyer can share, this overlap between product failure and vehicular negligence creates a complicated legal situation. Victims often face a mix of medical, insurance, and legal issues especially when their injuries were made worse by a device that was supposed to help.
A crash may trigger a pacemaker failure, disrupt an insulin pump, or damage a spinal implant. In those moments, what might have been a manageable injury becomes much more serious. For instance, a defibrillator might misfire during the trauma, or a feeding tube may be dislodged, creating emergency medical needs. These device failures can amplify harm and delay treatment, which makes documenting the exact sequence of events critical to any legal claim. It is also important to retain information on the devices themselves in case an accident does occur.
Identifying Liability In Dual-Injury Events
When both a car crash and a device failure contribute to injury, lawyers must determine who is at fault and in what proportion. The driver who caused the accident may still be liable, but the medical device manufacturer could also share responsibility. Hospitals or caregivers may be included if the device was not installed or monitored correctly. Sorting out these layers takes time and detailed analysis.
A catastrophic injury lawyer is often needed in these cases due to the severity and complexity of the injuries involved. Unlike a typical accident, these claims might include product liability, medical negligence, and auto negligence all at once. Each area has different rules, deadlines, and evidentiary needs. A single misstep such as failing to preserve the device or missing a filing date can reduce the value of the claim or eliminate it entirely. Additionally, device storage and lab analysis may be needed for your case which a lawyer can help obtain.
Complications also arise when dealing with insurance. Auto insurers may argue that the device failure was unrelated to the crash, while health insurers might blame the crash for medical issues that the device failure actually caused. Navigating these disputes requires a legal strategy that accounts for overlapping coverage and the medical timeline.
Building A Clear And Reliable Case
To prove a device contributed to harm, documentation is key. Medical records should detail the type of device, when it was implanted, how it functions, and what went wrong after the crash. Accident scene reports, vehicle data, and testimony from treating physicians help clarify whether the injury stemmed from the crash, the device, or both. Preserving the device itself may also be important, especially if a product defect is suspected.
Victims should take careful steps to record symptoms and medical visits. This helps build a consistent narrative that links the timing of the malfunction to the accident. If the device was under recall or recently repaired, those records should be included in the claim. If the crash caused the device to break or stop working, it may shift part of the legal focus onto the manufacturer.
As our friends at Herschensohn Law Firm, PLLC can share, success in these cases comes from showing exactly how each factor such as the crash and the device failure played a role in the injury. This often means working with multiple professionals to explain the interaction of mechanical and biological events. If you are ready to get started on your case, you can help out your lawyer by drafting a timeline of symptoms and treatment milestones as well as compiling all the records you have on hand.
If your injuries were made worse by a medical device during or after a collision, legal help is vital. These claims require clear evidence, thorough legal planning, and a strong understanding of how different areas of law intersect.
Talk to a lawyer in your area today.