Today’s automobiles are more complex than ever before, built with thousands of components from various manufacturers. Vehicle recalls are unfortunately commonplace, due to manufacturing or design defects that can cause injury or death.
Defects in-vehicle components like tires, airbags, seatbelts, and accelerators have accounted for billions of dollars in lost wages, medical expenses, and insurance costs.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 390 million vehicles have been recalled for safety defects since the enactment of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
VEHICLE RECALLS AND YOUR RIGHTS
Auto manufacturers owe you a duty of care when you buy their products. When those products fail, they owe a duty to notify you of any known defect and make provisions to correct the defect. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Auto manufacturers have in the past been guilty of obscuring or even ignoring, safety issues in favor of profitability.
Some recalls are initiated by the manufacturer if a defect is identified by the carmaker. In many other cases, a defect or malfunction is discovered by consumers themselves, and a recall is only prompted after a complaint is filed.
You should receive notification in either case from the manufacturer, though you can also check for pending recalls on your vehicle here. When a recall is issued, the automaker is required by federal law to remedy the defect within a reasonable time, which may require you to wait for an opening at your dealership’s service department or for a needed part to be in stock.
This could obligate you to either continue driving an unsafe vehicle or make alternative transportation arrangements. The car manufacturer must remedy the recall free of charge, but you could still be left holding the bag for other expenses.
If your vehicle has been recalled, you have rights that may entitle you to certain remedies, including financial damages as well as repairs. A product liability attorney in Georgia will evaluate your case for you.
HAVE YOU BEEN INJURED DUE TO A VEHICLE RECALL?
If you are injured due to a vehicle defect that has been recalled, you have a right to bring a product liability suit against the manufacturer. You are entitled by law to pursue compensation for medical expenses and damages, including lost wages and pain and suffering.
At the Fry | Goehring, our expertise is in litigating cases like yours, with a solid history of earning substantial settlements and trial verdicts for clients.
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