When we purchase an automobile, we invest more than just our money; we invest our lives. It is only reasonable for consumers to expect their vehicle will keep them safe. This is a concept called crashworthiness. By definition, crashworthiness is the ability of a vehicle to prevent or mitigate injuries to vehicle occupants during a collision. In addition to expecting that our vehicles will keep us safe, we also assume that our vehicles will not be responsible for causing a vehicle accident.  Unfortunately, auto defects are responsible for thousands of accidents, injuries, and deaths every year.

While most vehicles are designed and manufactured with the utmost care, some cars are poorly designed, carelessly made and allowed to enter the market with dangerous auto defects. In some cases, auto defects cause a visual or other nuisance to the owner who must spend time and money to correct the problem. In other cases, auto defects can cause or aggravate a devastating vehicle accident.

Many consumers would like to believe that vehicle manufacturers and the federal government have our best interest in mind when it comes to auto safety. Sadly, this is not always the case. Vehicle manufacturers conceal or downplay auto defect concerns in the name of corporate gain. The government also fails to protect consumers from dangerous auto defects. According to the consumer watchdog group, Public Citizen, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has made major decisions which put consumers at risk.

In June 2004, the NHTSA decided that, instead of requiring auto makers to inform consumers about auto defects within five days of notifying the government, auto makers can decide to inform consumers about serious auto defects at their discretion. The NHTSA said that it expected “extraordinarily few occasions” where it would be required to even ask a manufacturer to speed up announcements about auto defects.

The NHTSA has also allowed vehicle makers to issue regional auto defect announcements. This means that someone in Arizona might be informed that their fuel tank will crack in hot weather, but someone in Nevada will not be informed about these dangerous auto defects. In the last decade, over 40 regional recalls have been permitted by the government, leaving many consumers unaware of their vehicle’s auto defects.

Vehicles which are known to pose increased risks are meagerly regulated in the United States. The clearest example is the popularity of the SUV. Sports Utility Vehicles pose increased risks to consumers, yet they are one of the most popular and aggressively marketed vehicles on the road. SUV rollover risks are three times greater than the threat of rollover in a standard passenger vehicle. Some SUVs carry a forty times greater risk of rolling over in an accident.

There are a number of auto defects which can cause or aggravate a vehicle accident. Defective air bags, tires, roofs, fuel systems, seat belts, seat backs, and ignitions are just some of the serious auto defects that can cause serious injury or death in a vehicle accident.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious car accident, the consequences can be mind boggling. It may not be obvious that auto defects were involved in your vehicle accident. Contacting a reputable and qualified attorney after an accident is often the best way to protect and maximize your interests. Auto defects often throw up red flags during an auto accident investigation which can help determine liability in your auto accident. If auto defects caused or contributed to your accident, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your losses and suffering. Please contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION with one of our auto defect attorneys. Put our experience representing the injured and aggrieved in auto defects cases to work for you. We will help you determine if a vehicle defect was indeed the cause of the accident, and whether you have a case against the manufacturer. Speaking with us is free and does not obligate you to anything.

Our law firm has a litigation group devoted to helping people devasted by serious injuries or death of a family member because of automobile manufacturer defects. If you would like more information on auto defect cases, please click here to visit our site dealing specifically with auto defect litigation.