Were You Hurt in a Crash Due to a Manufacturer Recall?
A Cleveland car accident lawyer can get you maximum compensation
If you were injured in a crash due to faulty vehicle design or a manufacturer recall, our Cleveland car accident lawyers can help you hold the manufacturer legally responsible for your damages and get you the compensation you’re entitled to for your crash.
A lot of drivers consider vehicle recalls for defects an annoyance. And while driver error is the most common cause of car accidents, defective design and faulty equipment is also a key contributor to serious crashes that result in injury.
If you’ve been injured in a crash due to a vehicle recall or defect, our Cleveland car accident lawyers can help you file a defective vehicle claim and take steps to ensure you receive maximum compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
What is a motor vehicle recall?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recalled nearly 300 million vehicles for defects since it began vehicle recalls in 1966 as part of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Vehicle recalls are issued when the NHTSA (or a proactive manufacturer) determines that minimum safety standards are not being met and the defective equipment poses a risk of injury or death. Most manufacturers will notify drivers of a recall by sending a motor vehicle recall notice in the mail, though those who have purchased used cars or cars through a third party often aren’t alerted to vehicle recalls.
Some of the most common recalls involve:
- Defective airbags that deploy or do not deploy correctly, or airbags that cause injury when deployed;
- Seatbelt or safety restraint problems;
- Faulty tires or tire tread separation;
- Electrical system or electrical wiring issues;
- Unintended or unexpected acceleration;
- Loss of vehicle control;
- Glass breakage;
- Vehicle fires;
- Faulty ignition switches;
- Defective steering systems;
- Increased risk of rollover accidents;
- Defective child safety seats;
- Faulty windshield wipers;
- Door latch failure.
Equipment that fails due to normal wear and tear or vehicles with cosmetic issues will not be subject to recall. So, what should you do if there’s a recall on your car? If you’ve been notified of a recall, the manufacturer should give clear instructions on how to get the repair done free of charge. Unfortunately, manufacturers often wait until multiple drivers are injured in accidents before issuing a recall. Other times, manufacturers give unclear repair instructions in their recall notices. When that happens, a car accident lawyer from our Cleveland law firm can help you hold them accountable.
How do I know if my vehicle has a recall?
If you have a used car or you aren’t the first owner of a vehicle that’s under recall, it can be difficult to know if your vehicle has a recall. Luckily, you can tell if your vehicle’s specific make and model has a recall by looking up your VIN with the NHTSA. Simply enter your vehicle’s unique VIN and search for any safety issues or manufacturer recalls.
Even if you’ve been notified of a recall or defect with your vehicle, you still have legal options if you get injured in a crash due to that defect, with a few exceptions. Our Cleveland car accident lawyers have experience handling these types of claims and know how to build a strong case that will get you the compensation you need and deserve. Let our legal team get to work for you.
Can I file a claim for a recall accident? You can, and we can help.
A lot of drivers want to know if they can file a claim against a manufacturer when they get into an accident with a recalled vehicle. If your car is under recall and you get injured in an accident due to the manufacturer’s mistake or design defect, you may be able to hold that manufacturer legally responsible for your damages.
If a recall was already issued and you got into a crash because of that defect, you will likely face pushback from the manufacturer when attempting to recover damages. That’s why letting a car accident lawyer from our Cleveland law firm take on your case is so important. We know how to handle these complex defective vehicle claims, and we have the case results to prove it. Make my team your team. Contact Merriman Legal, LLC today for a free consultation.
