What Should I Do If a Part on My Car Has Been Recalled?
The causes of car accidents vary from distracted driving and driving under the influence of alcohol to speeding and reckless driving. Another significant factor in more than 44,000 of the millions of accidents each year in the United States is defective car parts, according to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In fact, the top 10 biggest car part recalls in 2018 affected more than 6.9 million vehicles and concerned safety issues such as faulty seatbelts, steering wheel failure, and sudden stalls.
Given the millions of vehicles subject to car part recalls each year, you may have been injured in an accident due to defective parts under recall. You need to talk to our Atlanta car accident lawyers at Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers, about possible compensation for your injuries. Our attorneys have represented clients who have been injured by vehicles under car part recall and know the claims that can be made against vehicle manufacturers, part makers, and possibly the dealership that sold the vehicle. Contact them today at (404) 939-9470 or use our online contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
If You Receive a Recall Notice
The NHTSA considers the issue of car safety so important that it provides vehicle owners 10 years from the original date of sale to receive a free recall repair; except for tires, which must be completed within 60 days of receiving a recall notice. To determine if your car may be subject to a recall, you can provide your vehicle identification number at www.safercar.com, which stores records on car part recalls for the past 10 years. For vehicles that might have been in a crash with your car, there are databases our attorneys can check to see if those cars were subject to recall.
Should your vehicle be subject to a car part recall, you can take your car to a dealer, which will fix the recalled part for free. The dealer cannot refuse to repair the car, and if it does, you should notify the manufacturer and file a complaint with the NHSTA.
However, sometimes notice of the defects are too late and injuries have resulted.
Duty of Care in Recall Accidents
Automobile makers have a duty to produce safe vehicles to consumers. But, at times, some manufacturers and dealers sell vehicles with poor quality and defective parts. The result of this practice can be serious injuries, including death.
It may be that the manufacturer was simply negligent and did not properly test the products or approved a bad design. Sometimes, a dealer may be a fault for selling a car that had a known defect and the buyer was not warned. In other cases, the problem may have been caused by the parts manufacturer. Liability for injuries due to car part recall can be a complex matter and the sooner our injury attorneys start analyzing the facts of your case, the quicker the responsible parties can pay for your damages.
Types of Part Defects
Today’s vehicles possess a wealth of technology and sophisticated engineering. Much of modern-day improvements include devices for safety, such as seatbelts and airbags. Regrettably, some of the most common recall issues in recent history concern these safety measures. Defective seatbelts and airbags can contribute to serious harm to vehicle occupants. In addition, the systems in cars today are often guided by software. Bad software can also lead to accidents, injuries, and ultimately, recalls.
Additional car part defects often at fault in car accidents, include:
- Defective tires;
- Steering wheel malfunction;
- Bad brakes
- Engine stalls;
- Sudden acceleration/deceleration;
- Gas/oil/other fluid leaks; and
- Cruise control malfunction.
Many accidents have occurred due to these defects, resulting in injuries that need just compensation.
Compensation for Injuries Caused by Defective Car Parts
A car accident is a traumatic event that can cause bodily injury, lost wages, and damaged property. A defective product subject to a car part recall might have been a factor given the millions of pending recalls. Let our Atlanta car accident lawyers at Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers, handle your claims for compensation while you focus on healing. Our experienced attorneys know how to uncover who may be liable for damages in your accident. Contact us today at (404) 939-9470 or use our online contact form for an appointment.