Memorial Day weekend is a time filled with picnics and parades to celebrate the start of the summer season. Most people also recognize the holiday weekend as an occasion to honor our fallen service men and women through memorial services and reflection of the sacrifices they made on every individual’s behalf. It is also, unfortunately, a deadly weekend on the roads. Across the country, many accidents occur during this long weekend and, even more tragically, a significant number of people lose their lives as a result. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, sixteen people died last year during Memorial Day weekend. Sadly, this year, a local marine and his friend were two of those who lost their lives on the road. The marine lost control of his vehicle and rolled over. The young man and his friend, who was a passenger in the marine’s pickup truck at the time of the accident, both lost their lives at the accident scene.
Manufacturing Defects Often the Cause of Vehicle Accidents
Though investigators are still trying to determine what caused the driver to lose control of his truck in this tragic accident, often times accidents can be the result of an auto manufacturing defect. Just recently, Ford issued a recall of several hundred thousand trucks because of an issue with leaking brake fluid. The vehicles at issue are pickup trucks in which brake fluid can leak from the master cylinder. When this occurs, the front brakes are less capable of stopping the vehicles. According to Ford, nine accidents have occurred so far. Though Ford claims there have been no injuries as a result of these accidents, one individual claimed to have suffered an injury.
Safety Defects – What Happens When a Vehicle Is Found Unsafe?
The act of driving is in itself a dangerous activity, so it is imperative that any factors that exacerbate the dangers of driving be minimized to the greatest extent possible. Driver error is something that is, for the most part, within the control of individual drivers; however, there are just as many factors that are outside of the control of the driver that can lead to an auto accident. With respect to these factors, a vehicle owner must be able to rely on vehicle manufacturers or those who oversee them to help with safety issues. Optimizing motor vehicle safety is an important factor in decreasing the chances that non-driver factors will cause or contribute to an accident. A safety defect can greatly affect motor vehicle safety overall and, when a safety defect is discovered, a recall is necessary to correct the issue and restore the vehicle to a safe condition. Federal Safety Standards are in place and must be met by all vehicles used on public roads throughout the country; compliance with the standards involves performance requirements for vehicle parts such as brakes, lights and tires that play a role in the vehicles’ safe operation as well as crash safety features such as seat belts and air bags.
Who Decides When a Recall Should Be Issued?
When a vehicle is found to have a safety defect, who has the responsibility to issue a recall? Often times, a vehicle manufacturer will discover a manufacturing defect and issue a recall voluntarily; in fact, most times when a recall is issued, it is because the manufacturer has become aware of the safety issue or their product’s failure to meet safety standards through their own tests and records. This is, of course, the right course of action for a responsible company to take. When this occurs, the manufacturer has the responsibility to advise the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the issue and also those who have purchased, sold, or distributed the vehicles containing the defective parts. The manufacturer has the further obligation to fix the problem without charge and NHTSA has the responsibility of making sure the manufacturers fulfill their responsibilities. The NHTSA also has the authority to compel a vehicle manufacturer to issue a recall for safety defects if the manufacturer has not already done so voluntarily. Regardless of how the issue is discovered, the most important thing is to get it corrected as soon as possible.
Recent Safety Recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers current safety recall information through the safercar.gov website. One of the largest safety defect recall categories in recent times are those involving airbags. According to information on the website, the safety defect involves inflators within the airbags that explode and could cause serious injury or even death. The airbags are present in millions of vehicles that are driven in the United States and must be repaired; according to NHTSA, nearly 8.5 million airbags have already been replaced as a result of the recall – repairs that have undoubtedly saved many lives. The website is a valuable source of information about the vehicles affected by the recall, the recall procedure, and many other items that the owner of a vehicle that has the particular defective air bag installed would need to know to keep themselves and their passengers safe.
When You Have Been Injured in an Accident, Contact the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers
When an accident occurs, the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers can help. If you have suffered injuries as the result of the accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Finding the right attorney is important to the success of your case. Our skilled Cincinnati, Ohio auto accident attorneys have the experience you can count on to help you get the best results possible. Personal injury issues can be complex and the outcome of the case can depend upon the details of your accident. Our legal professionals will review your case with you and help you understand your rights and responsibilities under Ohio law. Knowledge is power and the attorneys at Ohio Car Accident Lawyers give you the power to successfully recover from your loss. Contact the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers today to schedule your initial consultation at no cost or obligation to you.