Car manufacturers recall vehicles regularly. They are required by law to notify the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (NHTSA) and the vehicle owners, dealers, and distributors if a safety defect is discovered. Then, they must fix the problem at no charge to the owner. Unfortunately, some manufacturers blame the vehicle’s driver, hoping to avoid a recall and save money. Concealing a defect is not only a crime; it places undue stress on victims and can result in a larger cost to the company in the long run. In 2004, General Motors settled an accident claim that left a man dead and allowed his fiancée to plead guilty to the crime, knowing full well the accident was a result of a defect.
“General Motors committed fraud while settling claims over a 2004 accident that left one man dead and his fiancée pleading guilty to a crime, the victim’s family said in a lawsuit seeking to reopen the case.
Mikale Erickson, 25, a passenger in a 2004 Saturn Ion driven by his fiancee, Candice Anderson, died shortly after the vehicle crashed into a tree near Tyler, Texas. Erickson’s family and Anderson sued in Tyler federal court today, alleging General Motors deliberately concealed a defect the company now links to 13 deaths.
GM, based in Detroit, has recalled almost 2.6 million cars to repair defective ignition switches. The company last week fired 15 people after an internal investigation led by former Chicago U.S. Attorney Anton Valukas faulted the company for failing to act on the issue while knowing about it for more than a decade.
Since the recall began the company has been named in at least 85 lawsuits by owners who claim their vehicles lost value and at least 18 suits alleging personal injuries and deaths caused by ignition switch failures.
GM may also be facing a wave of cases the company thought it had settled, seeking more money including punitive damages.
“There are a ton of cases like this one,” said Bob Hilliard, attorney for Anderson and the Erickson family. Accident victims’ lawyers nationwide will be seeking to reopen such cases, he said in an interview today.” – Bloomberg.com
Defending yourself against a large car manufacturer is extremely difficult. The process can be lengthy, stressful, and time-consuming. If you or someone you love has been in an accident and they believe the car accident was caused by a vehicle defect, let the product liability attorneys at Eason & Tambornini, A Law Corporation represent you as you fight for the money you deserve.
