Do Car Companies Conceal Information About Defective Products?
The lack of transparency by corporations is a significant problem for consumers. Consumers should expect that companies conduct their affairs in a manner that ensures the safety of the public. and while the government is able to investigate and prosecute companies for matters concerning public safety, the results of a corporation’s practices and lack of information can have disastrous effects on people’s health and well-being.
This fact is particularly true in regard to vehicles in which a manufacturer’s mistake can signify the loss of life. If you believe that a vehicular accident was the result of driver’s errors, you should contact an attorney who can help you recover compensation for your injuries.
Before we continue, if you have been injured or involved in an accident that you believe happened because of a defective auto part, please call Boston car accident attorney John Sheehan immediately.
Concealing Information and Misleading Consumers
According to Businessweek, the Toyota Corporation has just agreed to pay $1.2 billion to settle an investigation by the American government. More importantly, Toyota admitted that they concealed information and misled consumers concerning Toyota and Lexus vehicles. In 2009, Toyota recalled certain models via a limited safety recall for an acceleration problem. The company asserted to regulators that they had solved the problems. As a result of their concealment, problems continued with Toyota vehicles in which the cars would unexpectedly accelerate, causing accidents that led to injuries and deaths.
This is merely one of many measures by Toyota to misinform its consumers and the government. Between 2010 and 2012, the car company paid more than $60 million in fines for delaying the reporting of public safety problems.
Not Only a Single Company
Even worse, this unfortunate phenomenon is not limited to Toyota. Lawmakers are currently questioning General Motors over its inability to correct a defective ignition switch over the previous decade. Federal crash data shows that more than 300 people died during this period because air bags failed to deploy in certain models. it was only last month that General Motors decided to recall two of the models. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating whether General Motors concealed information regarding the problem.
Unsurprisingly, when these types of accidents occur, corporations attempt to blame the victim rather than accept their culpability. In the aforementioned article, Toyota blamed drivers or other aspects unrelated to its electronics for the vehicular accidents.
The Importance of Contacting an Attorney
When you are in a car accident and believe that the accident may be due to manufacturer error, the first measure that you should take is to contact an attorney. Companies try to utilize their massive resources to prevent paying for the mistakes that they have made. As the aforementioned articles demonstrate, these corporations seem to do what is in their best interests, even if it means that the safety of the consumer is at risk.
You should do the same by contacting an experienced attorney. If you believe that a vehicular malfunction may have caused an accident for you or a loved one, contact Boston personal injury lawyer John J. Sheehan today to help file a claim and recover damages.
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