Over the past few years, U.S. and foreign auto manufacturers have been in the spotlight after issuing a record number of recalls totaling millions of vehicles. These recalls range from faulty ignition switches to airbags that fail to deploy when they should. In fact, it was recently discovered that 29 million vehicles may contain defective airbags. However, despite the shockingly high number of recalls, there is a relatively low compliance rate among drivers.
Of course, it is ultimately the manufacturer’s burden to create and market a safe vehicle. And a company’s failure to adequately inform all owners of a recall cannot be considered to be a motorist’s fault. However, recent efforts by auto manufacturers to boost compliance among drivers seem to be in the works.
According to one national news source, about 25% of all recalled vehicles remain on the road with the recalled parts. However, car manufacturers are seeking to change that by getting the help of insurance companies. According to the news report, car manufacturers are asking insurance companies to remind motorists to take in recalled vehicles to get the repairs performed.
This request came in the wake of a tragic accident in which a 17-year-old boy was killed in an accident due to a defective airbag in his 2002 Honda Civic. The necessary repairs were not performed, and the airbag ruptured as the boy was driving.
A Car Manufacturer’s Duty to the Customer
In general, auto manufacturers have a duty to their customers, as well as to the public as a whole, to manufacture safe vehicles. When a specific part or system of a car or truck is determined to present a risk, the company may issue a recall, offering to fix the dangerous part at no cost to the owner.
However, these recalls are often issued too late for many motorists, who have already sustained injuries as a result of the faulty part. In these cases, the injured motorists may be able to seek compensation through a product liability lawsuit. In many cases, the accident victim will not need to show “fault,” and the case will proceed under the theory of strict liability.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Car Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Maryland car accident, and you believe that it may have been due to a defective or faulty part in your vehicle, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The skilled personal injury attorneys at the Maryland and Washington, D.C. law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience representing clients in all kinds of personal injury cases, including those arising out of defective or dangerous products. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation. Calling is free and will not result in any obligation on your part unless we are ultimately able to help you obtain the recovery you deserve.
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Pedestrian Accidents on the Rise, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published April 4, 2016.
Court Finds Landowner Had No Duty to Prevent Lessee’s Horses from Escaping Leased Property, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published March 23, 2016.