Minivan Safety Issues Can Result in Serious Accident Related Injuries
The minivan has been the stereotypical family car for years, with its ability to transport a large family and lots of luggage. Few Georgia families who rely on minivans for their family transportation consider the potential for serious auto accidents involving the vehicles, but minivans have been subject to a massive waive of recalls over various safety issues that could easily cause auto accidents resulting in serious injuries or wrongful death. It is important to be aware of such safety issues and have them addressed to keep your family safe.
The Georgia minivan accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, represent those injured in serious minivan accidents throughout the state. If you have been seriously injured in a minivan accident, our experienced Georgia minivan lawyers and staff are available to provide a free assessment of your right to compensation for your injuries or loss of a loved one. We diligently pursue the best interests of our clients so that we can obtain the best possible outcome for those who suffer serious injury in motor vehicle accidents. Below we have provided an overview of recent safety recalls involving minivans and the safety issues that may affect Georgia residents.
Volkswagen is recalling almost 12,600 minivans due to a faulty ignition key issue. The 2010 model year of these vehicles have an issue with the ignition that can actually cause the engine to shut off while the vehicle is in motion. The key can move from the run position to a different position and cause the engine to shutdown. Many unsuspecting drivers are shocked when traveling down the highway at 70 mph in the fast lane only to have the engine completely turnoff.
Chrysler has recalled about 250,000 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans while Dodge Journey crossovers also have been recalled for a very similar problem. In addition to this defect, Chrysler attempted to fix a safety hazard involving the front airbags in the Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravans about a year ago. It was discovered that the front airbag sensor could potentially fail if it got wet or damaged. Chrysler recalled over 355,000 minivans to fix the defective airbag sensor.
Ford has recalled 575,000 Windstar minivans in August of 2010 due to a rear axle that was prone to corrosion and decay and therefore to breakage. The following month consumers had filed 950 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). At that point, multiple car accidents resulting in severe injuries and even death have been linked to this defect in the rear axle. An additional 37,000 Windstar minivans were subsequently added to the recall list.
These are just a few recent examples of minivan recalls related to safety issues. Prior minivan recalls have included issues like minivans being equipped with faulty seat belts. Another serious previous product defect involved defective latches on some sliding doors permitting them to slide open and creating a risk of passengers falling out of the moving vehicle. Families typically purchase minivans so children ride in the back on a regular basis. This means that a minivan with significant defects can result in auto accidents and catastrophic or even fatal injuries. If a minivan defect, such as a faulty ignition is the cause of an accident in which you sustain injuries, the automaker could be held liable for those injuries. You may be entitled to seek compensation to cover medical costs, loss of wages, pain and suffering, disability or disfigurement, loss of consortium and other damages.
The Georgia minivan accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.