Legal Question in Consumer Law in Virginia

I purchased a fuel pressure regulator from a local auto parts store, my husband installed the part as he has done many times in the past as he used to work as a mechanic. The car started running funny about 5 minutes after the install and after inspection we found that the spark plug holes were filled with fuel. The vehicle had so much fuel in the spark plug holes that a slight spark in our dry air, caught the fuel on fire and we couldn't save our vehicle. Not realizing that the new part was the problem, we had a second vehicle that uses and needed the same part, so since we had just spent almost $100 at the auto parts store, we put the new part on our second vehicle, and now it is doing the same thing as the first vehicle, fuel is running out of the spark plug holes and we are afraid to touch the vehicle to do anything so as not to have another vehicle fire. Do we have any rights? We lost our very nice vehicle that was paid for and only had liability insurance, and also have put our other vehicle in jeopardy of the same fate because of a faulty part. Is there anything we can do and where should we start?


Asked on 1/06/10, 5:38 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

The local auto parts store as well as the manufacturer of the part may have liability for your losses. You should arrange for a consultation with a local attorney who handles consumer affairs/product liability law matters and who should be able to advise you as to a reasonable course of action. (The local bar association can probably provide a few names with contact information for such attorneys in your particular area.)

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Answered on 1/12/10, 7:44 am


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