Why Are Midsize SUV Headlights Failing Safety Tests?

Recent studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggest that many midsize SUVs’ headlights are lacking in quality and safety. Headlights are critical to road safety, and factors such as the visibility they provide and the glare they create were tested. The majority of vehicles were found to produce excessive glare, compromising night-time driving safety. Car manufacturers are responsible for providing safe products. Crashes are much more likely to happen at night, even though there is much less traffic on the road.

Safety Tips for Driving at Night

• Vision correction: Human vision is much worse at night. Make sure you have corrective lenses on if you do not have perfect vision. Anti-glare lenses can improve vision quality and enhance safety while driving at night.

• Stay awake: Driver fatigue is a significant contributor to road accidents. Make sure you are awake and alert, and if you start to feel sleepy, pull over to a nearby resting area to sleep.

• Clean your windshield: Dust and grime can accumulate on your windshield and refract light coming from other vehicles, clouding your vision and increasing the risk for an accident.

• Dim your dashboard lights: Limiting the amount of light entering your eyes from inside the vehicle will improve your vision outside the car.

These are great tips to keep you safe, but car manufacturers' negligence causes some accidents. In the SUV case mentioned above, no recalls were issued, but if a product is deemed too unsafe, a liability case can arise.

When Is an Accident a Car Manufacturer’s Fault?

• Defective products: Faulty products cause accidents in many ways. Faulty tires that blow out, dangerous exploding airbags, and failing brake systems are examples. Car components must adhere to strict safety standards for legal reasons. A product liability attorney has the resources to investigate if your vehicle meets those specific standards.

• Failure to warn drivers: In the event of an auto recall, the manufacturer must notify drivers by mail within 60 days of the recall being issued, including options for remedying the issue. You can check for existing safety recalls on safecar.gov.

If you suspect that an auto accident happened due to a defective component in your vehicle, a Lufkin auto accident attorney at Mike Love & Associates, LLC can investigate manufacturer breaches in auto safety laws. Injured, contact us today.

Details About the Takata Airbag Recall, the Largest in U.S. History

You may have heard about the Takata airbag recall, an issue affecting 42 million vehicles in the United States with exploding airbags, but do you know the details about the case? The recall has been ongoing since 2013 and has grown in scope over the years. A long road riddled with safety negligence and unaccountability makes it difficult to track the number of vehicles affected.

Announced in April 2013, only six vehicle makes were initially identified as affected. Reports have surfaced that Takata and Honda allegedly knew about the dangerous airbags since 2004 but failed to report the issues. A Takata plant in Mexico was found to be allowing a defect rate that was six to eight times the acceptable limit. One of the main contributors to shrapnel explosions is high humidity, and many vehicles in hot, humid climates have been recalled.

Takata denies the New York Times report that it learned of the issue in 2004 and destroyed the evidence. Now, the scope of vehicles affected has expanded to include many more makes and brands of cars operating in different climates. This issue has not only affected Takata; many vehicle manufacturers have also had to pay owners for economic losses and personal injuries. Many of the affected makes and models were only identified after a dangerous explosion.

How Can You Check Your Vehicle for Recalled Parts?

An auto manufacturer is legally required to notify all the owners of affected vehicles that they know of within sixty days the recall is reported. Once you receive the notice, the letter should include details on how to remedy the issue for free. If you suspect your vehicle may have a defective part, you can check safecar.gov to see if there are any recalls for your vehicle. In many cases, recalls are initiated due to consumer reports.

How Do You Report a Potential Auto Defect?

You can file a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) online by filling out a form. Providing the make, model, your vehicle identification number, and any photos or police reports that support your claim will help. You can also call the Vehicle Safety Hotline, powered by the NHTSA, to document your claim. The NHTSA reviews consumer reports and determines whether to contact an auto manufacturer about a potential recall. You may also report the issue to your vehicle manufacturer. Contact us if you are injured. Our team of experienced Lufkin product liability attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC has years of experience proving liability in vehicle accident or injury cases.

Could Computer Software Cause a Car Accident?

A current recall of a faulty software component affecting 1.25 million Chrysler vehicles is causing side airbags not to deploy and causing issues with the seatbelts. Many components of modern vehicles are controlled by software, and when they malfunction, the consequences can be very dangerous. Another example is recent issues with Uber’s self-driving cars, which have caused accidents. As software starts controlling more vehicle functions, we are likely to see more software components recalled. This raises questions, such as: is the auto manufacturer responsible for the flaw? Alternatively, is it the software company?

How Do I Know If Computer Software Caused a Car Accident?

1. Have you checked for recalls online? Check online at safecar.gov to see if there are any current recalls on your vehicle following an accident. If they have issued one, the dealer must replace your vehicle component at no cost. You can pair with an auto injury attorney who can call in accident reconstruction experts with advanced knowledge of accident causation.

2. Which parts of your vehicle are controlled by software? In modern cars, more of your vehicle may be controlled by software than you think. Sensors control many vehicle safety features. When they malfunction, they cause things like airbags not deploying, as in the case with Chrysler above.

3. Was their negligence involved? Suppose your vehicle has software that needs to be updated or replaced to function properly. In that case, it is the vehicle manufacturer’s duty to communicate that information to all owners of the vehicle within 60 days.

Who Can Prove That a Software Component Was Faulty?

Proving that software caused an accident can be complicated. Major car manufacturers and software companies have strong legal resources and trained professionals on their side. Pairing with an experienced attorney can help you get help from professionals who study automobile function and the causes of accidents. If you think that an unknown car error caused you to get in an accident, start taking action today. Contact Lufkin car accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC for more information about accident liability and obtaining compensation for your injuries.

Auto Recalls Hit Record High: Is Your Car Safe?

Recalls on defective auto parts have hit record highs for the third year in a row. In 2016, 53.2 million vehicles were recalled and 927 campaigns were enacted. The Takata airbag recall is the largest in U.S. history, involving over 42 million vehicles. Recalls on Ford, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and General Motors make up the rest of the list. These auto manufacturers are liable for injuries caused by these parts and must be diligent in addressing the issue. Toyota recently paid $1.2 billion to the U.S. Department of Justice for failing to fix an accelerator issue. Given that there are more recalls than ever, let’s take a moment to go over some helpful tips for dealing with a recall that involves your vehicle.

Questions to Ask About Your Recall

• How serious is the recall? There may be a long delay in repairing your vehicle, depending on its size. Many recalls will involve a component that is not essential to the vehicle's operation. In these cases, it is still safe to drive, but your car may not be operating at full efficiency. In other cases, you may receive a recall notice that lets you know you need to stop driving altogether. The manufacturer should provide you a loaner vehicle until the repairs are complete. They are also legally required to notify affected vehicle owners promptly.

• What can be done to fix the issue? The dealer should be replacing the part for free. In some cases, they may ask to repurchase the vehicle or replace the vehicle entirely. If your auto manufacturer is not complying with fixing your recall, you should call the dealer department and show them your recall notice. If you are still experiencing issues, contact the vehicle manufacturer. In some cases, you should file a claim with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). NHTSA’s website has an online form for car safety reports. This is a great place to report a suspected recall and other vehicle defects.

Cases involving injuries that result from recalls can get complicated, and having an experienced auto accident attorney can help you get the coverage you need from the auto manufacturer. Often, products that have not been recalled can be proven to cause serious accidents with the help of product liability lawyers and accident reconstruction specialists. Contact the Lufkin product liability attorney at Mike Love & Associates, LLC for more information about defective products and obtaining compensation for your recall-related injuries.

How Do I Know If a Recalled Product Caused an Accident?

Auto recalls happen regularly, and many vehicle owners may not even find out about a recall until months later, or have a used vehicle with a recalled part they didn’t know about. In many cases, vehicle manufacturers do not publicize recalls to the general public. Vehicles are recalled because the defective product can cause serious, potentially life-threatening injuries. Whether you were aware that your car had a recalled product at the time of the accident or not, you may have the potential to claim compensation for your losses. Knowing if the recall was the cause of your car accident can be difficult; however, there are several ways to find out.

How Do You Check for Recalls on Your Vehicle?

Multiple online resources store vehicle recall information online. Search for your car on one of these sites, and you may find the type of product that was recalled.  This can help determine the cause of the accident.

When Did the Accident and Recall Occur?

Were you in an accident before the recall was announced? Let’s say that you got in an accident when your tire blew out, and the insurance company claimed it was your fault because you swerved into another car. Three months later, your vehicle’s axle is being recalled for being unsafe, and you may have a case against the car manufacturer for damages that happened in that accident. Take pictures of the damage in any accident for your records. You never know when a recall can happen. What if the recall already occurred? If you were aware of the recall and experienced an accident related to the product's function, contacting an attorney and allowing them to inspect the damage could be the best option. Having your vehicle repaired before legal professionals can examine it could eliminate evidence.

Recall Cases Can Be Complicated

There are multiple kinds of product defects, and having a Lufkin product liability attorney can help you determine if a faulty product caused your accident. Attempting to take action against a large auto corporation on your own can be expensive and extremely risky.