Technology in today’s automobiles have become more advanced, and made cars safer and easier to drive than before. But despite the cutting-edge technology, flawed auto parts and equipment is still a problem that plagues the auto industry. When a defect is found, auto manufacturers must issue a recall and repair the defect in a timely manner.
Recalls can stem from a number of causes. In many cases, auto manufactures will look to save costs on their construction by using less expensive materials for certain parts, believing that a lower-quality material can still perform the required task adequately. While this is sometimes fine, a poorly-designed part in a critical spot could break or malfunction unexpectedly causing a major safety hazard and risking serious injury to drivers.
Likewise, a feature may function exactly how it is supposed to, however but it’s design or operation is confusing, difficult to use, or dangerous to have to use on a moment’s notice, like many features of a car are required to do. When this is the case, vehicle manufacturers may need to develop a fix for these vehicles that will perform the original feature’s function in a less-confusing and easier to use fashion.
How Do I Know My Car has Been Recalled?
If the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decides that a vehicle needs to be recalled due to a major defect, the manufacturer of the affected vehicles are required by law to inform all known owners, purchasers, and operators of the recall within “a reasonable amount of time.” This is done via first-class mail, and explains the dangers to vehicle owners, and then provides a solution on how to have the issue corrected.
Repairing the problem is usually done at a dealer for that particular maker, and the labor is done at no cost to the vehicle owner. The letter must also inform drivers of details on the repair and how long it should take to perform the correction.
What if I was Hurt by this Safety Defect?
If you have been hurt as a result of a defective or recalled car part, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries, bereavement, lost property and more. After seeking medical treatment, it is important to retain the services of a skilled North Carolina personal injury Attorney who can guide you through the process of filing a product liability suit and making a safety complaint to the NHTSA. In this way, you may be able to help prevent others from suffering the same losses you did as a result of this defective product.
The professional team at Twiggs Strickland & Rabenau have assisted North Carolina residents with personal injury claims for more than 60 years of combined legal practice. Our legal team has earned distinctions such as being named to the North Carolina list of Super Lawyers, being named one of The Best Lawyers in America®, and inclusion on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Law Firms in 2016.
Call Twiggs Strickland & Rabeau at (919) 828-4357 and schedule a case evaluation appointment with one of our elite representatives today.
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