San Francisco Injury Lawyer Blog
In the U.S., motor vehicle safety is governed by a detailed network of laws and regulations governing initial build and on-going maintenance. Some rules have been standard for decades. Others are constantly being added/updated. While the rules are complex, the reason they exist is simple – A single defect in a single automobile can endanger dozens and thousands are at risk when a defect is repeated. Vehicle recalls are one preventative tool, but a recent settlement questions the effectiveness of some recalls. When a potential defect becomes a real accident and an injury or death is linked to a defective vehicle, our vehicle defect law firm in San Francisco, Oakland, and Santa Rosa is ready to use our experience in car accident personal injury litigation and product liability law to advocate on behalf of the injured and the grieving.
Fiat Chrysler Settles Government Claims Related to Vehicle Defects and Ineffective Recalls
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, federal officials have pointed to numerous problems with Fiat Chrysler vehicles. For example, defective steering parts in more than 500,000 Ram pickup trucks could cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle. The government claims a recall and repair campaign failed to fully address the issue and Fiat Chrysler has agreed to institute to the largest buyback program in U.S. history. Additionally, some 500,000 older Jeeps with potentially dangerous rear-mount gas tanks are eligible for buyback or repair. More than 75 vehicle fire deaths have been linked to the tanks, although Fiat Chrysler says the Jeeps are no more dangerous than similar cars of the same vintage.