Earlier this year, General Motors announced a recall affecting 6.3 million vehicles. The problems affected many of the company’s models including the Cobalt, Cruze, Acadia, Traverse, HHR, Solstice, and Sky. Unlike many other recalls, the recent GM recall was not isolated to one problem with the automobiles. The current recalls affect many parts of the cars, including the:
- Ignition switch;
- Axels;
- Steering system;
- Side airbag wiring; and
- Instrument panel
In a recent article by USA Today, it is reported that the recalls may be responsible for 31 crashes and 13 deaths.
What is especially tragic about this particular recall and the accidents it has caused is that there is evidence that GM knew the parts were faulty years ago, and delayed issuing the recall until the most recent series of serious accidents.
Why Delay a Recall?
If GM knew that the parts were faulty, why not issue a recall immediately? The answer can be summed up in one word, cost. It is incredibly expensive to recall over 6 million vehicles. So in the minds of GM (an other car companies who have issues delayed recalls) it may be cheaper to hope that the faulty parts don’t cause too many serious accidents and fight off the few lawsuits that do result in serious injury or death.
If this sounds like using math to calculate the value of a human life, that is because it is essentially what is happening. GM hopes to chose the lower cost option between fending off a series of lawsuits or issuing millions of recalls.
GM’s Potential Liability
There is no telling how many accidents the delayed recalls are truly responsible for. The automobile manufacturer faces potentially astronomical liability for the over 6 million recalled vehicles. This is especially the case if, as the evidence suggests, the company knew that the vehicles were unsafe but continued to manufacture and sell them.
Not only does GM face lawsuits from those who have been injured or killed in their dangerous vehicles, but also from the owners of the recalled vehicles whose vehicles are now worth much less as a result of the recalls and the company’s tarnished safety record.
Do You Own a GM Vehicle that Was Recalled?
If you own one of the many models of GM vehicles that has been recalled, and you or a loved one was involved in a serious accident, it may have been due to one of the vehicle’s faulty parts that should have been—but wasn’t—recalled. If that is the case, you may be entitled to monetary damages to compensate you for your injuries or loss. To find out more about what models of GM vehicles were recalled, and to discuss the facts of your case with an dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney, contact the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. The skilled lawyers at Lebowitz & Mzhen have the experience you need to effectively bring your Maryland personal injury claim. Click here, or call 410-654-2600 today to schedule a free initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Maryland Man Dies in Fatal Left-Turn Accident, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published March 27, 2014.
Three-Car Accident on Route 340 Kills Two, Injures Four, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published March 20, 2014.