Understanding Auto Defects and Recalls

You may have recently learned that your vehicle was recalled and you may be concerned as to what the legalities are behind the act of an auto product recall in relation to the everyday person. When it comes to an auto recall, the main goal is to remove the vehicle off of the market and form the hands of the consumers in order to repair whatever is a hazard to their health and their safety.

Statistics show that there are tens of thousands of lives lost on the highways every year, and being fervent in recalling dangerous cars off of the road is one way that the government (by way of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) can enforce the safety of the people.

Sadly, the results of a car accident can be extremely tragic even if the incident doesn’t claim the life of the victims. For example, statistics show that one of the primary causes for paraplegia (or losing ability to move from the waist down) under the age of 34 is because of car accidents. While obviously a number of these accidents are related to negligent drivers behind the wheel, but a number of them are also caused by defective products as well.

What then, determines when a recall is necessary? How can the manufacturer or the NHSTA be certain that is the defective model as a whole (or specific part) as opposed to just one bad car? All vehicles are required to comply with the criteria that are defined by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards including all factors of the car such as engine, tires, brakes, lighting, air bags, seat belts, etc.

However, when any of these standards are not met, the government reserves the right to require a recall. If the product meets that standards, and yet is reported to have a safety defect concern with a particular piece of equipment, or the vehicle as a whole, the government will also determine whether or not to recall.

Safety related recalls are usually determined by the NHTSA and they determine whether or not they feel as though the safety standards of the vehicle are falling short of the standard requirement or that there are other concerns which make the recall necessary. For example, there have been recent recalls involving unintentional acceleration, brake problems, air bag early deployment, etc. A recent case was regarding different Jeep models made by Chrysler due to the poor placement of the fuel tanks.

There were 51 instances fatalities that were caused in their cars after the jeep was rear ended due to the placement of the tank and leaking of gas. Because of these dangers, the NHTSA sight to purse the recall, and while Chrysler originally sought to put up a fight, they eventually complied and they will be issuing a recall in the near future for nearly 2.7 million vehicles worldwide.

If you have been injured by a defective auto part, contact the Whitley Law Firm today for your trusted Raleigh personal injury attorney!