Ford Recall Because of Fuel System Defect That May Cause Fires in Auto Accidents
Ford recently announced a recall of 2007 Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego sedans to repair a defect that may result in a fuel leak if the motor vehicles are involved in a car accident.
The recall covers approximately 3,000 sedans linked to a defect in the form of weak welds where the fuel filler neck meets the fuel tank, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While there are not a large number of vehicles covered by the recall, the recall is significant because the defect could result in a fire involving the fuel system during a severe rear impact.
The vehicles subject to the recall were manufactured during September 2006. The joint may not be strong enough to withstand the impact of a collision during a Georgia car accident. If the joint were to fail and develop a crack, fuel could leak following a rear impact collision. Signs of the defect can be identified by the smell of fuel or the emission malfunction light.
Fuel system defects in cars, trucks and SUVs are responsible for a substantial number of fires and explosion-related fatalities annually in the U.S. Dangerous fuel system defects can result in fires that cause fatalities following otherwise survivable collisions. A serious Georgia car accident may occur trapping vehicle occupants inside the vehicle. Even though the vehicle occupants survive the force of the impact without serious injury, the vehicle may erupt and be engulfed in flames resulting in catastrophic injuries and even fatalities.
During a recent 5-year period, there was an average of more than 65,000 vehicle fires per year according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). These fires often are caused by faulty fuel systems following car crashes, resulting in an average of almost a hundred fatalities per year and three hundred additional injuries. Fuel system defects cause approximately 17 percent of these vehicle fires. If a vehicle manufacturer defectively designs a fuel system, fuel may leak causing the vehicle to explode after a collision. A fire that is caused by fuel can be very difficult to extinguish, placing vehicle occupants and those trying to rescue them in great danger.
If you or your loved one is injured in a vehicle fire following an auto collision in Georgia, which may have been caused by a defective fuel system, you may have a right to file a legal claim based on product liability law. Our Georgia defective vehicle lawyers have been representing those injured or killed in car crashes for over 39 years.
Our Atlanta vehicle defect accident lawyers 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.