The Most Notorious Auto Defects in History Part 2: GM’s Ignition Switch

There have been many auto defect scandals over the past few decades. We published a prior blog on our website that discusses how the Ford Pinto severely damaged the reputation of one of the world’s largest automakers. The Ford Pinto is only the tip of the iceberg. Other automakers have also knowingly released dangerous products on to the market. General Motors (GM) released faulty ignition switches that are thought to be responsible for 124 deaths and 274 injuries.Ignition switches in these vehicles could be triggered into the accessory position, in many cases while people were driving. Several outcomes would be possible if you were driving a GM vehicle when this happened. Your vehicle’s engine and power steering would lose power. The airbags and anti-lock braking system would also be rendered useless. You would have little control over your vehicle if you were travelling at high speeds. The airbags in your vehicle would not deploy if you were involved in a collision. Many of the people injured or killed by GM’s ignition switch likely experienced similar scenarios.During the early morning hours of July 29, 2005, then 16-year-old Amber Marie Rose was headed home from a party when she lost control of her vehicle and slammed into a tree. Investigators initially determined that alcohol and speeding were factors in the crash. However, it was also discovered that the 2005 Chevy Cobalt’s airbags never deployed. A private investigator hired by Amber’s family discovered that the ignition switch had moved into the accessory position.

Why Do Automakers Conceal Dangerous Defects?

There are similarities between the Ford Pinto and GM ignition switch recalls. Ford and GM knew their products would pose a danger to consumers. In fact, GM first discovered problems with its ignition switch while it was testing the Saturn Ion in 2001. Additional ignition switch problems were noticed in 2003 and 2004. By 2005, GM declined to fix the problem due to concerns over costs. GM warned dealerships about the defect, but did not issue a recall until almost ten years later.Automakers feel compelled to cut costs and to protect the reputation of their products. Unfortunately, they pursue these goals at the cost of public safety.If you were injured by a defective automobile or auto product, then you should speak with one of the auto defect attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC. Automakers are not necessarily absolved of liability for issuing recalls. Our attorneys could help you determine legal options for seeking justice against the parties who have caused you harm.

Can Injury Symptoms Be Delayed After a Motor Vehicle Accident?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) figures show that an estimated two million people in the US are injured in car accidents each year. In many cases, any serious injuries you suffer during a car accident will be apparent soon after the crash. You would likely notice broken bones, burns and lacerations right away. Some injuries may not be noticeable until hours, days or weeks after your accident. Delayed injuries after a car accident could still have extremely negative effects on your health. Five common delayed injuries after a car accident include:

1. Whiplash injury: The impact force from a car accident could cause you to suffer a whiplash injury, a nickname for a type of musculoskeletal injury after a car accident. According to the Mayo Clinic, you may feel pain and stiffness in your neck. You could also experience shoulder, upper back and arm pain.
2. Post-concussive effects: Concussions are very common after a car accident. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists dizziness, confusion, vomiting, memory loss, balance problems, drowsiness and headaches as possible concussion symptoms. Anxiety, problems concentrating, depression, irritability and insomnia could linger for weeks or months. Post-concussive syndrome is where dizziness or other symptoms linger for weeks or months.
3. Internal bleeding: Symptoms of internal bleeding may go unnoticed after a car accident. Abdominal pain, dizziness or headaches might be symptoms of internal bleeding. Any type of internal bleeding is a life-threatening emergency. Bleeding between the skull and brain could cause swelling, which may lead to death or permanent disability.
4. Spinal injury: Tingling, pain or a loss of sensation in the limbs could be symptoms of a spinal injury, such as a herniated disc. You could also suffer from a bulging disc after a car accident. These injuries can compress the nerves in the spinal cord.
5. PTSD: The Department of Veterans Affairs claims that an estimated 9 percent of motor vehicle accident survivors among the general population develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a debilitating mental health condition that may cause flashbacks, depression, panic attacks, irritability and nightmares.

Texas Personal Injury Lawyers Explain What to Do After a Car Accident

You may not realize the extent of your injuries after a motor vehicle accident. It is crucial to seek medical attention right away. If you are injured, any medical services you receive could help establish the extent of your injuries. Your medical records could be very useful for settlement negotiations, or even a lawsuit if it becomes necessary.The Texas personal injury lawyers at Mike Love & Associates, LLC could discuss your possible legal options for recovering compensation after a car accident.

Federal Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Reduce Truck Underride Accidents

Several weeks ago, US Senators Marco Rubio and Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the Stop Underrides Act of 2017. Representatives Steve Cohen and Mark DeSaulnier introduced mirrored the legislation by introducing a bill in US House of Representatives on the same day. The Stop Underrides Act of 2017 seeks to prevent a type of truck accident that occurs when smaller vehicles run underneath trailers on semi-trucks. Smaller passenger vehicles can easily be sheered in half. Many underride accident victims are decapitated or catastrophically injured. This new legislation would require large trucks to use side and front underride guards if it became a law.Underride guards can prevent these types of accidents. Instead of running underneath the trailer, a passenger vehicle hits guards that hang underneath the back or side of a truck’s trailer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has required rear underride guards since the late 1990s. No such law or federal rule currently exists that would require large trucks to use side underride guards. A motorist driving behind a semi-truck might be protected from a rear underride accident, but they could still be in mortal danger if they hit the truck from the side.The legislation makes some other important changes. Current federal standards for underride guards may not be sufficient for preventing an underride accident. Testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) during 2011 shows that guards may break or bend when they are hit by passenger vehicles at 35 miles per hour. The Stop Underrides Act of 2017 would require underride guards to withstand these forces. In addition to improving existing underride guards, the bill also calls for research into guards that can prevent underride accidents at 65 miles per hour. Some underride accidents occur at much higher speeds than 35 miles per hour.Lawmakers responsible who introduced the Stop Underrides Act of 2017 included the names of many victims of underride accidents in the bill. While the bill is not it is not guaranteed to pass and be signed into law, it did renew an important conversation on how underride guard requirements can be improved.Mike Love & Associates, LLC is a Lufkin, Texas personal injury law firm with extensive experience helping victims of car and truck accidents. If you or a loved one were harmed in a truck accident, our attorneys could inform you of your rights and options for pursuing compensation.

New ELD Rule for Commercial Trucks Goes into Effect

A debate is ongoing over the recent mandate for electronic logging devices (ELDs) on large commercial trucks. On December 18^th, many commercial trucks were required to start using ELDs, devices that automatically record driving data from the engine. Some carriers have used ELDs for years, but now they are mandatory for a majority of commercial trucks. The rule was created to make it more difficult for commercial truckers to violate regulations that prevent drowsy driving accidents. Hours of service rules set limitations for how long commercial truckers can drive.For many years, drivers used paper logbooks to record driving time and to show they were in compliance with hours of service rules. However, drivers could falsify the information in these books to increase their driving times. Proponents of the mandate argue ELDs would catch drivers who are violating hours of service rules. ELDs work by recording truck movement and driving time. Roadside safety inspectors could use ELD data to catch drivers who are exceeding their allotted driving hours.Public policy initiatives have winners and losers, opponents and proponents. This rule is no different. Opponents to the rule claim that ELDs could jeopardize public safety or put smaller trucking companies out of business.

What About Sleep Apnea?

There is still more work to be done when it comes to preventing truck accidents caused by drowsy drivers. Hours of service violations are one reason why these accidents happen, but there are others. Commercial truckers can also suffer from untreated obstructive sleep apnea. People with untreated obstructive sleep apnea may experience excessive daytime drowsiness and trouble concentrating. As you have already likely guessed, these symptoms increase the risk of a truck crash. According to a Harvard University study, truck drivers with untreated sleep apnea are five times more likely to crash than those who received treatment.The Department of Transportation stopped pursuing a rule that sought to improve the process for identifying and testing commercial truckers who were at higher risk of suffering from sleep apnea. However, commercial carriers can still choose to test their drivers for the condition.Mike Love & Associates LLC is a Lufkin, Texas truck accident law firm. Our attorneys are dedicated to helping victims of motor vehicle and truck accidents.

The Most Notorious Auto Defects in History Part 1: The Ford Pinto

The Ford Pinto is responsible for one of the most infamous auto industry scandals in US history. This once-popular subcompact car is also a terrifying example of what can happen to consumers when products contain deadly safety defects. Fuel tanks in these vehicles were prone to being punctured or rupturing during low-speed, rear-end collisions. Gasoline would leak underneath the vehicle and combust. An estimated 27 to 180 people were killed by fuel tank fires. Additional victims were disfigured from burn injuries.You may be wondering why a company would release a product that was prone to exploding during rear-end minor collisions. The story of the Ford Pinto is also a tale of corporate greed.During the late 1960s, Ford was desperate to compete with foreign manufacturers that were selling cheaper, smaller vehicles in the US. The Pinto was Ford’s answer to becoming competitive in this market. Ford executives wanted to get the Pinto onto the market as soon as possible. A 25-month delivery deadline was set.Ford initially discovered the fuel tank problem during low-speed, rear-end crash tests. Multiple tests resulted in fuel tank ruptures. There were two reasons why this kept happening. Engineers discovered that the fuel tanks could be punctured by bolts. The filler necks could also tear away from the fuel tanks. Both flaws caused fuel leaks and created a major fire hazard.However, there were several tests that did not result in fuel tank ruptures. Engineers had used various safety devices that protected the fuel tanks during those tests. An internal memo uncovered during a lawsuit against Ford showed that it had made a cruel calculation while deciding whether to apply fixes to the fuel tanks. According to this memo, Ford calculated that it would have cost $113 million to delay production and apply the fixes, but only $49 million to pay damages from lawsuits filed by victims.Ford did eventually issue a recall for 1971-1976 Pintos in 1978. By the time the recall was announced, countless people had their lives ended or destroyed. In one case, a 13-year-old boy suffered severe burns and disfigurement. Three teenage girls in Indiana burned alive while riding in a Ford Pinto.More than 100 lawsuits were filed against Ford by crash survivors and their families. We will never know the damages Ford paid victims because many of the cases were settled out-of-court. However, the damage to Ford’s reputation at the time was substantial. Even decades after its release, many people still remember the infamous Ford Pinto.

Injured by a Defective Auto Product?

You can contact the Texas product liability lawyers at Mike Love & Associates, LLC for a free consultation if you or a loved one were injured by a defective auto product. Our attorneys can review your situation and inform you of available legal options to pursue damages.