Vehicles Recalls and Auto Safety – Should a Lawsuit for Injury be Filed?

While driving, the last thing we want to worry about is something malfunctioning on our automobile. We assume that automakers and government agencies are doing their jobs to make sure our autos are safe. If we hit the brakes, we want the car to stop, and if we are in an accident we want our air bags to work properly.

Unfortunately the media has unveiled a bevy of problems including recalls from many automakers with a prior reputation for safety in the last few months. Ford recalled 17,600 hybrid sedans for problems with the braking system in February 2010. Toyota is being investigated for braking problems with the Prius hybrid. Toyota has also recalled more than 5.3 million vehicles in the last three months with sticky accelerator pedals and there is a question as to whether the recalls actually fixed the problems. In February of 2010 Honda recalled more than 430,000 cars for faulty airbag inflators, and this is the third recall for the same airbag problem that the company has made since November 2008.

The obvious problems that arise from faulty breaks or uncontrollable acceleration have lead to crashes resulting in injuries and fatalities. Airbags, which are designed to save lives, can also cause injuries and fatalities when they fail to perform. Of course it is important that seat belts always be worn, and that children under age 15 not sit in a front seat because the airbag could injure them if deployed. Airbags were designed for 180 pound 5 foot 8 inch men, and have not been designed for smaller occupants. Airbag injuries include partial blindness from debris forced out with the airbag, or other serious and even fatal injuries if a small person is seated in front of the airbag.

One of the real worries drivers have with airbags, brakes, and accelerator pedals is that there is no way to be sure whether yours are working properly until they fail. Then, in the case that the accelerator sticks, the brakes fail, or the air bag fails to open, causing brain or spinal injuries, it is too late. Knowing how to protect yourself and your passengers can help prevent unnecessary injuries or even deaths. In some cases automaker recalls have helped to alleviate the problems, but there are many issues that are still unresolved. The government has tried to enforce stricter standards as well. NHTSA has given automobile makers until 2012 to meet new criteria for airbag safety, but so far no companies have met these criteria.

Will these failed recalls and unmet safety standards result in a slew of lawsuits? Perhaps if automakers are forced to meet safety standards by costly consumer injury lawsuits and imposed government recalls, there will be far fewer fatalities and injuries as a result of automobile accidents.