Should There Be a U.S. Ford Explorer Recall?

Do you own a Ford Explorer that was manufactured between 2011 and 2017? You should continue reading this blog. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received almost 1,400 reports of these vehicles leaking exhaust fumes into passenger cabins. Complaints suggest that vehicle owners are being exposed to carbon monoxide. There are also reports of crashes and injuries caused by this possible defect.NHTSA is investigating Ford Explorers affected by the issue, and a recall may be issued.

The Center for Auto Safety (CAS) has called on Ford to recall these vehicles before anyone is killed. Vehicle owners have reported experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning while driving. Symptoms reported by vehicle owners include drowsiness, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. CAS said it has received reports of children suffering these symptoms and requiring emergency treatment.

In one case, a 70-year-old Explorer owner said he had to pull over and call an ambulance after becoming deathly ill while driving. In another incident, a Lafayette, Louisiana, family became very sick while making a trip to Dallas in their 2015 Ford Explorer. Complaints about the issue began with police utility vehicles, which are a modified version of the Ford Explorer. Police officers have reported crashing or almost crashing their cars due to symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Last year, seven officers with the Austin Police Department (APD) were reportedly exposed to carbon monoxide while using these vehicles. One APD officer became drowsy while driving and almost crashed into a bus. Another filed a lawsuit after suffering possible nerve damage due to carbon monoxide exposure.

What Do You Think About Ford Explorer Carbon Monoxide Leaks?

Ford claims its vehicles are safe. However, the recent increase in near-misses or accidents involving these vehicles suggests they may contain a deadly safety defect. Will Ford issue a recall before it’s too late? If you have read our prior blogs on auto recalls, then you may already realize that auto manufacturers sometimes conceal dangerous defects. If you have been injured due to a defective product, contact Mike Love & Associates, LLC today. We can help!

Most Notorious Auto Defects, Part 2: GM’s Ignition Switch

There have been many auto defect scandals over the past few decades. We published a prior blog on our website that discusses how the Ford Pinto severely damaged the reputation of one of the world’s largest automakers. The Ford Pinto is only the tip of the iceberg. Other automakers have also knowingly released dangerous products onto the market. General Motors (GM) released faulty ignition switches that are thought to be responsible for 124 deaths and 274 injuries. Ignition switches in these vehicles could be inadvertently moved to the accessory position in many cases while people were driving.

Several outcomes would be possible if you were driving a GM vehicle when this happened. Your vehicle’s engine and power steering would lose power. The airbags and anti-lock braking system would also be rendered useless. You would have little control over your vehicle if you were travelling at high speeds. The airbags in your vehicle would not deploy if you were involved in a collision. Many of the people injured or killed by GM’s ignition switch likely experienced similar scenarios. During the early morning hours of July 29, 2005, then 16-year-old Amber Marie Rose was headed home from a party when she lost control of her vehicle and slammed into a tree. Investigators initially determined that alcohol and speeding were factors in the crash. However, it was also discovered that the 2005 Chevy Cobalt’s airbags never deployed. A private investigator hired by Amber’s family found that the ignition switch had moved into the accessory position.

Why Do Automakers Conceal Dangerous Defects?

There are similarities between the Ford Pinto and GM ignition switch recalls. Ford and GM knew their products would pose a danger to consumers. In fact, GM first discovered problems with its ignition switch while it was testing the Saturn Ion in 2001. Additional ignition-switch issues were reported in 2003 and 2004. By 2005, GM declined to fix the problem due to concerns over costs. GM warned dealerships about the defect, but did not issue a recall until almost ten years later. Automakers feel compelled to cut costs and to protect the reputation of their products. Unfortunately, they pursue these goals at the expense of public safety. If a defective automobile or auto product injured you, then you should speak with one of the auto defect attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC. Automakers are not necessarily absolved of liability for issuing recalls. Our attorneys could help you determine legal options for seeking justice against the parties who have caused you harm.

Can Injury Symptoms Be Delayed After a Car Accident?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) figures show that an estimated two million people in the US are injured in car accidents each year. In many cases, any serious injuries you suffer during a car accident will be apparent soon after the crash. You would likely notice broken bones, burns, and lacerations right away. Some injuries may not be noticeable until hours, days, or weeks after your accident. Delayed injuries after a car accident could still have highly adverse effects on your health. Five common delayed injuries after a car accident include:

1. Whiplash injury: The impact force from a car accident could cause you to suffer a whiplash injury, a nickname for a type of musculoskeletal injury after a car accident. According to the Mayo Clinic, you may experience neck pain and stiffness. You could also experience shoulder, upper back, and arm pain.

2. Post-concussive effects: Concussions are prevalent after a car accident. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists dizziness, confusion, vomiting, memory loss, balance problems, drowsiness, and headaches as possible concussion symptoms. Anxiety, problems concentrating, depression, irritability, and insomnia could linger for weeks or months. Post-concussive syndrome is when dizziness or other symptoms linger for weeks or months.

3. Internal bleeding: Symptoms may go unnoticed after a car accident. Abdominal pain, dizziness, or headaches might be symptoms of internal bleeding. Any internal bleeding is a life-threatening emergency. Bleeding between the skull and brain could cause swelling, which may lead to death or permanent disability.

4. Spinal injury: Tingling, pain, or a loss of sensation in the limbs could be symptoms of a spinal injury, such as a herniated disc. You could also suffer from a bulging disc after a car accident. These injuries can compress the nerves in the spinal cord.

5. PTSD: The Department of Veterans Affairs claims that an estimated 9 percent of motor vehicle accident survivors among the general population develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a debilitating mental health condition that may cause flashbacks, depression, panic attacks, irritability and nightmares.

Texas Personal Injury Lawyers Explain What to Do After a Car Accident

You may not realize the extent of your injuries after a motor vehicle accident. It is crucial to seek medical attention right away. If you are injured, any medical services you receive could help establish the extent of your injuries. Your medical records could be very useful for settlement negotiations or, if necessary, a lawsuit. The Texas personal injury lawyers at Mike Love & Associates, LLC could discuss your possible legal options for recovering compensation after a car accident.

Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Reduce Truck Underride Accidents

Several weeks ago, US Senators Marco Rubio and Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the Stop Underrides Act of 2017. Representatives Steve Cohen and Mark DeSaulnier introduced a bill in the US House of Representatives on the same day. The Stop Underrides Act of 2017 seeks to prevent a type of truck accident in which smaller vehicles run under semi-trailer trailers. Smaller passenger vehicles can easily be sheared in half. Many underride accident victims are decapitated or catastrophically injured.

This new legislation would require large trucks to use side and front underride guards if it were to become law. Underride guards can prevent these types of accidents. Instead of running underneath the trailer, a passenger vehicle hits the guards that hang underneath the back or side of a truck’s trailer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has required rear underride guards since the late 1990s. No such law or federal rule currently exists that would require large trucks to use side underride guards. A motorist driving behind a semi-truck might be protected from a rear underride accident, but they could still be in mortal danger if they hit the truck from the side. The legislation makes some other significant changes.

Current federal standards for underride guards may not be sufficient for preventing an underride accident. Testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in 2011 shows that guards may break or bend when struck by passenger vehicles traveling at 35 miles per hour. The Stop Underrides Act of 2017 would require underride guards to withstand these forces. In addition to improving existing underride guards, the bill also calls for research into guards that can prevent underride accidents at 65 miles per hour. Some underride accidents occur at speeds well above 35 miles per hour.

Lawmakers responsible for introducing the Stop Underrides Act of 2017 included the names of many victims of underride accidents in the bill. While the bill is not guaranteed to pass or be signed into law, it has renewed an important conversation about how underride guard requirements can be improved.

Mike Love & Associates, LLC is a Lufkin, Texas personal injury law firm with extensive experience helping victims of car and truck accidents. If you or a loved one were harmed in a truck accident, our attorneys could inform you of your rights and options for pursuing compensation.

New ELD Rule for Commercial Trucks Goes into Effect

A debate is ongoing over the recent mandate for electronic logging devices (ELDs) on large commercial trucks. On December 18th, many commercial trucks were required to start using ELDs, devices that automatically record driving data from the engine. Some carriers have used ELDs for years, but they are now mandatory for most commercial trucks. The rule was created to make it more difficult for commercial truckers to violate regulations aimed at preventing drowsy driving accidents. Hours-of-service rules set limits on how long commercial truckers can drive. For many years, drivers used paper logbooks to record driving time and demonstrate compliance with hours-of-service regulations.

However, drivers could falsify the information in these books to increase their driving times. Proponents of the mandate argue that ELDs would catch drivers who are violating hours-of-service rules—ELDs record truck movement and driving time. Roadside safety inspectors could use ELD data to catch drivers who are exceeding their allotted driving hours. Public policy initiatives have winners and losers, opponents and proponents. This rule is no different. Opponents to the rule claim that ELDs could jeopardize public safety or put smaller trucking companies out of business.

What About Sleep Apnea?

There is still more work to be done to prevent truck accidents caused by drowsy drivers. Hours-of-service violations are one reason these accidents happen, but there are others. Commercial truckers can also suffer from untreated obstructive sleep apnea. People with untreated obstructive sleep apnea may experience excessive daytime drowsiness and trouble concentrating. As you have already likely guessed, these symptoms increase the risk of a truck crash. According to a Harvard University study, truck drivers with untreated sleep apnea are five times more likely to crash than those who receive treatment.

The Department of Transportation stopped pursuing a rule that aimed to improve the process for identifying and testing commercial truck drivers at higher risk of sleep apnea. However, commercial carriers can still choose to test their drivers for the condition. Mike Love & Associates LLC is a Lufkin, Texas, truck accident law firm. Our attorneys are dedicated to helping victims of motor vehicle and truck accidents.