According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2009, there were 33,963 fatalities as a result of motor vehicle accidents. These accidents involved a variety of vehicles including passenger cars, vans, pickup trucks and SUVs. Although there is a decline in the number of deaths each year concerning auto accidents there seems to be a rising concern regarding automobile recalls.

Every year there are nearly 11 million accidents that involve not only fatalities but injuries and property damage as well. Although many of these accidents are related to driver error or negligence, road conditions or other circumstances some of these accidents and fatalities are linked back to recalled automobiles.

Largest Recalls

The largest recall for the largest automaker took place in 2004. General Motors recalled about 25 million vehicles. The beginning of 2010 marked the largest recall ever in Toyota history. To date, 10 million Toyota vehicles have been recalled due to defective floor mats and/or gas pedals that can cause a vehicle to unexpectedly accelerate. The models involved in this automobile recall include: Camry, Prius, Rav4, Corolla, Matrix, Avalon, VENZA, Tundra, Highlander, and Tacoma. In addition, Toyota has announced a recall of 437,000 Prius models and some other hybrid vehicles due to brake problems.

Consumer Safety

When an automobile recall takes place, there is a risk of safety to the consumer due to faulty or inadequate design or manufacturing. Many of the automobile recalls that take place are done voluntarily by the car maker. Other automobile recalls are brought on by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA not only issues recalls but makes the public aware of them.

Types of Recalls

Recalls can involve vehicle parts such as tires. Over the years tens of millions of tires have undergone recalls due to safety issues. Some of them have included well-known tire manufacturers such as Goodyear, Cooper, and Bridgestone/Firestone. These have many times been due to tire tread separation. Seat belts that malfunction, airbags that fail to deploy, brake failure, and improperly working fuel systems are other examples of recalls that can take place. In addition, automobile recalls can take place when there is a failure to issue a proper warning or provide important instructions on a vehicle.

Legal Implications

An unprecedented automobile recall took place in 2004 when a woman was awarded $122.6 million due to serious injuries involved in her Ford Explorer SUV. The accident that left her paralyzed earned the first-ever award based on the finding that SUV’s were found to be defective due to the higher risk of rollovers and their weaker roofs.

Federal law mandates that any vehicle safety problems are fixed with no cost to the consumer. Yet statistics indicate that only 72 percent of consumers who are eligible for fixes to their recalled vehicles have actually had the work done.

Selecting an Attorney

Auto safety is important for obvious reasons but also because of the lawsuits that come as a result. Injured parties or family members can sue for damages, injuries or deaths as a result of an unsafe vehicle. Car manufacturers who are responsible for manufacturing vehicles with safety defects can be liable for not only recovery to the injured or wrongful death but additional costs such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Automobile recalls mean that there is a risk of safety to consumers and so it is important that all necessary steps are taken to ensure the risk of injury or death is lessened.