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When a vehicle or its components fail to meet federal safety standards, lives are put at risk — and under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, manufacturers can be required to issue recalls. Whether triggered by an NHTSA investigation or widespread consumer complaints, these recalls often stem from serious hazards like faulty brakes, defective airbags, or fire-prone fuel systems.
According to the 1966 National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has clear authority to compel manufacturers to recall automobiles that fail to comply with the safety standards. In essence, this means that vehicles that pose a risk to the safety of drivers, passengers, or others on the road must be recalled. Manufacturers and distributors can also issue their own voluntary recalls.
Examples of defects that can lead to recalls include:
Not all recalls will be related to safety. For instance, a manufacturer may recall a vehicle because it consumes too much oil, rusts overly easily, comes with a lackluster air conditioning or radio, or contains components or parts that need to be replaced, maintained, inspected, and repaired more often than the consumer was led to expect.
NHTSA investigations may prompt a recall, as may multiple complaints by owners of the same make and model of a vehicle. In some cases, as discussed above, the manufacturers of a certain piece of equipment or of a make or model may instigate a recall.
Litigation over motor vehicle safety defects can get complicated and can stretch on for years, particularly if a class of drivers has been harmed. If you believe that you or a family member sustained injury as the result of a defective component, part, or vehicle, do not wait to call us for legal advice.
In Northern California, for instance, the “statute of limitations” on personal injury and wrongful death cases is two years from the date of the accident. The longer you wait after the accident to launch an investigation, the harder it can be to identify the true cause of the accident and of any collateral damage.
To develop an effective and methodical approach, connect today with our San Jose defective auto automobile-recall lawyer at Caputo and Van Der Walde – Injury & Accident Attorneys who serve all of Northern California. Collectively, for more than 85 years, our firm has delivered exceptional results for clients in San Jose personal injury cases, and we serve accident victims in the Silicon Valley and throughout Northern California.
As members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum® and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, we have proven our ability to negotiate and litigate on behalf of our clients successfully. Retain us to put our tactical strategies to work for you. These skills are what make our legal team such a formidable opponent in any courtroom or negotiation setting.