Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and automakers selling cars in the U.S. reached an agreement on safety principles intended to increase vehicle safety in coming years. This comes in the wake of unprecedented auto recalls. According to USAttorneys.com, as many as 25% of all cars on the road are subject to some kind of recall. In many cases, these recalls are for minor issues, but in some cases, the defects can lead to car accidents, injuries, and deaths.
The reality is that automakers have a duty of care to sell safe vehicles that meet industry and federal standards. NHTSA’s agreement with automakers can be credited in part to recent legislation passed by Congress that gives the NHTSA more power to enforce safety measures. As part of its initiatives, NHTSA is fighting to find defects before they hit the road. The safety measures include four initiatives. These are:
- Increased communication between the NHTSA and automakers. This includes giving the NHTSA increased access to the decision-making process that leads to vehicle recalls. On too many occasions, automakers put the bottom line before public safety and drag their feet in issuing recalls. By making the decision-making more transparent, public safety can be put where it belongs—first.
- Better analysis of Early Warning Data. Better analysis of current data can catch safety issues before they start to take lives on the road.
- Increase recall participation. Even when recalls are issued, not all drivers or car owners may be aware that their car is subject to a recall. For instance, used car dealers are not required to inform a new owner about possible recalls and new owners don’t always research their vehicles before they buy. The NHTSA plans to involve used auto dealers, insurers, and the DMV to increase vehicle recall fixes and participation to 100%.
- Increased security can protect the auto industry from technological threats that can put consumers and drivers at risk.
With the NHTSA’s increased powers in enforcing safety recalls in the auto industry, the hope is that fewer people will be hurt due to safety issues with the vehicles they drive. Despite this, many vehicles remain defective and on the road. Some of these vehicles may have serious issues relating to brakes and other safety features that can put drivers and others at risk.
If you’ve been injured due to a defective vehicle, you may want to contact a car accident lawyer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Defective vehicle accidents are a little different than typical car accident lawsuits because they often involve more stakeholders. Automakers may have teams of lawyers on their side fighting to argue that a defect didn’t lead to a particular accident. The Law Office of Martin T. Montilino can take the time to review the details of your accident and determine the best course of action. In some cases, it is appropriate to move forward with a product liability claim, but in other cases, the accident may be due to driver error or neglect. Our team of personal injury attorneys can take a close look at your case and determine the best way forward.