When a vehicle recall is issued, it is important to take quick action. The federal government does not issue recalls for minor problems. Every time a recall is issued, it is because of an unreasonable safety risk or because a car does not meet minimum federal safety standards. Because recalls are so serious, they can greatly impact lawsuits.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the federal agency that issues recalls on cars and car parts. On its recall website, it describes the importance of taking care of recalls quickly:
Every recall is serious, and the details of all recalls and their remedies vary. Do not wait; contact your vehicle dealer immediately to receive your free fix.
In fact, getting recalled items fixed is so important that the NHTSA recommends that you look up your vehicle identification number at least twice every year to catch all recalls that might affect your safety.
Here are some examples of recent recalls.
- the Takata air bag recall, which affects “tens of millions of U.S. vehicles”; and
- the Chrysler set of recalls, which can result in loss of power brake assist, alternator failure, and failure of steering components.
As you can see, these recalls could easily cause a serious accident, leading to crippling injuries or even death.
Recalls can drastically affect lawsuits, either helping or hurting your case. If you own a vehicle and ignored a recall, your liability would be increased if the affected car part led to the accident. On the other hand, if you were in an accident with a car whose owner ignored a recall, it would be easier for you to recover from that owner.
Vehicle recalls can even affect who you sue. Sometimes, if a car or a car component is defective or improperly designed, the car manufacturer may be responsible for the wreck.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you may be entitled to money damages. The attorneys at Wright Pichon & Gray know that accidents cause can completely change your life. We will help you get back on track. Contact us today for a free case review.