Uncontrolled Acceleration in Vehicles

Uncontrolled acceleration is also described as unexplained or sudden acceleration. It may be described as a situation in which a vehicle speeds up or moves ahead without any action on the part of the driver. Many auto safety experts believe that a majority of uncontrolled acceleration cases go unreported. Part of the reason for these may be that many of these accelerations occur when the car is already moving along at a reasonably high speed. Still, several vehicles in recent years have been linked to incidents of uncontrolled acceleration.

If you were driving your vehicle when it suddenly accelerated for no apparent reason and an accident occurred, you may be able to take legal action against the manufacturer. With a product liability lawsuit, you may be able to recover compensation that will cover medical bills, as well as future medical care, lost earnings, loss of potential earnings, and even emotional trauma. The auto product liability attorneys at Hurt In brampton can provide knowledgeable insight and aggressive legal representation for a claim involving acceleration defects.

Injuries Caused by Sudden, Unexplained Acceleration

Sudden acceleration can lead to severe accidents when a motorist is unable to control the car. The resulting injuries can be catastrophic. As modern vehicles come with more sophisticated features, the possibility that these high-tech systems conceal defects, especially in software controls, is a real one. Unfortunately, auto manufacturers are continually focusing their energies on creating the next supercar that will change the future of the industry, and introducing it as quickly as possible into the American market, without testing it properly.

Because Lexus was getting an overwhelming amount of complaints relating to this acceleration issue, they filed a defect information report with the NHTSA. Vehicles that were also affected are some 2006 and 2007 models of the GS 300 and GS 350 because of the same issue. The plastic pad beneath the driver’s side carpet was interfering with the accelerator pedal and causing it to be stuck in the accelerated position. The voluntary recall also affected RX 330, 350, and 400h vehicles so that the carpet cover and retention clips could be replaced.

Among other types of auto product liability are tire defects and steering defects. Lexus also issued a recall back in 2011 for a defective crankshaft pulley in some of their vehicles. They recalled 283,200 Toyota and 137,000 Lexus vehicles because of a problem with their V6 engines. In some vehicles, the pulley was becoming unaligned with the inner ring. This could potentially result in a loss of steering control.

Defective Seat Design

Seatbacks that have a weak and unstable structure are prone to collapse during a collision, placing occupants at high risk for serious head and bodily injuries. Passengers have suffered head, neck, and spinal cord injuries, as well as organ damage, paralysis, and even death as a result of partial or complete ejection from the seat. This includes incidents where passengers are thrown against the vehicle’s interior upon impact.

The seats in a car may have a significant impact on the extent of the injury caused by collision—especially if the seat is defective. Design flaws and manufacturing defects can have serious consequences for passengers; in these cases, the manufacturer may be held accountable. Our attorneys can talk to you about your options and legal rights if you or someone you know has been injured as the result of a defective seat. Defective seat design can result in malfunctioning seat belts, weak seat-backs, and seats that eject passengers in the event of an accident. Passengers sitting in any of the seats can be at risk during an accident, but those who occupy the back seats have a greater risk of serious injuries or wrongful death.

Vehicles with bucket seats put occupants at a higher risk for injury than regular seats. These risks typically include bending or collapsing of the seat-backs during impact. Considering that the passenger may be belted in or restrained to their seat, it’s easy to understand how defective seats can cause injuries, even during a minor accident. The injuries become even more serious when young children occupy the seats. Another risk with a defective seat is the danger of partial or complete ejection. A properly designed seat back must be able to keep its occupant restrained in the seat without throwing them forward against the windshield or the front seat in an accident. Failure of the seat back can throw occupants about during impact. Collapse of the seat back can be attributed to weak structure of the seat that does little to protect passengers from an ejection.

Ford has had problems related to defective seats in a number of its vehicles, including the Escort. In 1992, the company investigated the stability of its car seats and concluded that occupants were exposed to serious injuries during an accident. General Motors, Hyundai, Mazda, Toyota, and Mitsubishi have also had some of their models linked to seat-back failure as a result of defective design. Daimler Chrysler Corporation has faced lawsuits from passengers who suffered serious injuries due to crushed seats during rear-ending accidents.

Seat back collapse and ejection can lead to severe injuries. When the seat fails to restrain the passenger during impact, he or she may be thrown toward the windshield, the front seat, or the interior of the vehicle—causing severe body trauma, head and neck injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, crushed body parts, organ damage, and more. During partial ejection, passengers may receive the full and devastating impact of being crushed under the weight of the vehicle as it overturns. Paraplegia, quadriplegia, and even death may result.

Defective Power Windows

Virtually all new vehicles introduced in the American market come with power windows. Although these make it easier for passengers to open and shut windows, they have been the cause of many injuries over the years. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 500 people suffer from power window-related injuries every year. Most of those injured are children below the age of 15.

For a person who has been severely injured by a defective power window, life may become increasingly difficult. Medical bills may pile up. Trying to deal with insurance claims and other matters related to the incident can be complex and frustrating. The physical pain of the incident may cause lasting emotional trauma, as may the financial problems that may arise. In these situations, you should turn to a product liability lawyer.

An attorney can help with a claim or lawsuit against the manufacturer of the defective power window, seeking financial compensation for medical bills, lost earnings, and various other expenses or losses that the incident has caused. Though the manufacturer may have considerable resources to counteract a product liability lawsuit, an experienced attorney can take a stand to protect an injured consumer’s rights nonetheless.

Both switches are easy for children to operate, resulting in hundreds rushed to emergency rooms with fractured / crushed fingers and dislocations. However, the third kind of switch, the lever switch, is more difficult for children of this high-risk age group to operate. This switch is operated by pulling up on the switch. Auto safety advocates have been urging motor vehicle companies to use the lever switch system, making it harder for children to operate windows. Daimler Chrysler and General Motors have recently introduced passenger car models with the lever switch power window mechanism. However, the majority of American made cars continue to use the rocker or toggle switch systems.

Safety mechanisms that force windows to open automatically when obstructed can prevent most injuries and deaths. These safety mechanisms work in much the same manner as elevator doors, which open when blocked by an object or person. Most American cars are not equipped with these safety mechanisms; however, they are common in Japanese and European models. An overwhelming majority of accidents caused by power windows can be prevented if automobile manufacturers invest in safety mechanisms and lever switches.

Contact an Automobile Product Liability Attorney for a Free Consultation: 800.793.3903.

In going up against an auto manufacturer, distributor, or retailer, it can be difficult to ensure your legal rights are protected properly and that your claim is given the attention and importance it deserves. The manufacturer may actively try to limit their liability, leaving you with limited options or even without the ability to seek financial compensation at all. A product liability attorney with experience in dealing with automobile defects can make a significant difference, not only in proving liability but in seeking the full and fair value of your claim.

At Hurt In brampton, we assist clients throughout the U.S. with auto product liability lawsuits. We believe in consumers’ rights and are dedicated to protecting these to the fullest extent in all cases we handle related to defective auto parts. From defective power windows to defective seat belts and faulty fuel systems, we understand how to investigate these matters and build compelling cases that prove manufacturer liability.

In offering a free consultation to review the circumstances surrounding your claim, we give you the opportunity to learn more about your options and your legal rights. If you have questions that need to be answered, a product liability attorney at our firm can provide you with straightforward answers that apply to your particular situation. We wish to help you make informed choices about your case so you can seek justice.