Colorado vehicle owners should be aware that around 51 million cars, trucks and SUVs were recalled in 2015. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this record number was caused in part by government enforcement becoming more strict and recalls involving exploding air bags.
There were around 900 different recalls, up from 803 the previous year. The rise in recalls was in part due to the fact that several automakers faced fines for responding to reports of vehicle problems too slowly. Vehicle manufacturers appeared to be reacting much faster to provide solutions for reported problems. Additionally, Takata’s malfunctioning airbags were responsible for about 19 million of the recalls. The air bag inflators were reportedly so powerful that they inflated with too much force, causing shrapnel to be thrown at vehicle occupants.
An administrator for the NHTSA stated that reporting the vehicle defects was only the beginning; the issues actually have to be fixed. In fact, it is estimated that only about 75 percent of recalled vehicles are actually taken to repair shops. To assist with this, a campaign called “Safe Cars Save Lives” aims to make vehicle owners more aware of recalls so that they could take their vehicles in to actually get the repairs needed.
When a car accident occurs, the driver who caused it is usually responsible for any injuries that occurred. However, if the crash was the result of a vehicle malfunction, those who have been harmed may want to consider filing a products liability lawsuit against the automaker or the manufacturer of the defective part. An attorney may help by pinpointing the responsibility for the injuries through the review of all available evidence.