Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for drivers 34 years old and younger. While most of these deaths are caused by the other driver being inattentive, driving after drinking or by driving recklessly, sometimes accidents are caused by malfunctions due to defects in the vehicle.
Along with motor vehicle accidents, vehicle safety issues or recalls can cause vehicles to catch fire, as what happened with the Polaris RZR fires, roll away on their own or cause premature airbag deployments. If you drive a vehicle with an active recall due to manufacturer defects, here is some information you should know.
Why are Vehicles Recalled?
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for issuing vehicle safety standards and its work has significantly decreased the number of fatalities due to motor vehicle accidents. NHTSA also orders vehicle and parts manufacturers to recall vehicles, parts and accessories for safety failures or failing to comply with federal safety standards.
Vehicles, tires, child safety seats and parts are often recalled after the NHTSA has monitored numerous complaints about safety failures. NHTSA will review the complaints and, if it deems it necessary, they will investigate them to find the cause of safety failures.
If NHTSA determines the cause is a manufacturer’s defect, it will have the responsible company issue a recall. Most companies will usually resist issuing recalls because it can easily cost them millions of dollars, but NHTSA can force their hands to get unsafe vehicles repaired or off the road.
Notification of Recall
If you have a vehicle, bought parts, tires or a child safety seat which has been recalled, you should receive a notification of the recall in the mail. If you haven’t been informed of a recall, you can go online to search for recall information if your concerned about news you may have heard your vehicle, tires or the accessories you bought.
The recall notification will describe why the recall was issued and provide a remedy for the problem. If the vehicle can be repaired by replacing a part, the notification will advise you about which part needs to be replaced and where it can be done, which is usually at the dealership where you bought the vehicle.
Even if you haven’t had issues with the vehicle, parts or accessories, you need to follow the recall’s instructions to ensure your safety and that of your family. NHTSA has been responsible for ensuring the safety of millions of vehicles safer with recalls and preventing an untold number of injuries or deaths.
Suing for Compensation
If you’ve been injured because of a problem with a recalled part, vehicle or automobile accessory, you should contact an injury lawyer with experience in representing victims of defective vehicles. Your attorney can provide advice about how to recover damages for your injuries.
