Defective part cases live and die on physical evidence, so what you do in the days right after the crash matters more than almost any other type of case.

• Don't repair or dispose of the vehicle until the part in question has been inspected, even if that means paying for temporary storage
• Photograph the part itself from multiple angles before anything shifts or gets cleaned
• Keep the actual part if it detached from the vehicle (a wheel, a tire, a component), rather than letting a tow yard or repair shop discard it
• Save purchase or installation records, including receipts from any recent tire changes, repairs, or recalls
• Check for a recall on the part or vehicle, since manufacturers sometimes already know about the defect
• Avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster before the part has been examined, since early statements can be used against you later

Once a vehicle is repaired, sold, or scrapped, the physical proof of a defect can be gone for good. If you suspect a part failure caused your crash, treat the vehicle itself as evidence until someone qualified has looked at it.

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