Attorneys for Accident Victims Injured by a Defective Car
Defective designs in automobiles are not always noticeable to an untrained eye. But for the attorneys at The Boccardo Law Firm, we have the experience to identify potential defects when evaluating a truck accident or car accident claim. Put our experience and knowledge to work for you.
We have successfully litigated Auto Defect cases against the biggest car makers in the world. Before there was even the Toyota sudden acceleration cases due to their floor mats, we were litigating sudden acceleration cases against Ford Motor Company. In 2004, The Boccardo Law Firm successfully sued Ford (Pendleton v. Ford) claiming their Crown Victorias had an electronic defect that led to sudden acceleration accidents.
Takata Airbag Recall and Failures
Takata is one of the world’s largest suppliers of automotive airbag systems and is now responsible for the largest auto recall in history. In the event of a crash, the inflator parts may shoot metal fragments into the occupants of vehicles. The faulty airbags affect one in eight vehicles nationwide, according to a report from Kelley Blue Book. Yet as many as 1/3 of affected drivers do not realize they are driving with a defective airbag.
To date, according to the LA Times, the defective airbags have allegedly accounted for 14 deaths. The New York Times also reports that since 2004, Takata along with Honda, allegedly knew about the faulty inflators.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that owners check and/or replace their airbag system for the following makes of car:
- Toyota
- Honda
- Mazda
- BMW
- Nissan
- Mitsubishi
- Subaru
- Chrysler
- Ford
- General Motors
For more information on vehicle recalls, visit safecar.gov to see if your car is on the recall list. In addition, you can call The Boccardo Law Firm, at 408-298-5678, if you suspect that you or a loved one was injured by a defective airbag.
Additional Types of Automotive Defects
Automobiles are complicated pieces of machinery. Technology plays a large role in the cars you drive. As a result, there are numerous accidents that are caused by automotive defects. Contact The Boccardo Law Firm if you or a loved one are injured in a car accident and suspect the following:
- A rollover which causes the roof to cave in on the driver and passengers.
- A car fire due to a poorly designed fuel system or even a fuel tank puncture.
- Driver or passenger ejected as a result of a door failure.
- A seatbelt failure.
- The lack of side impact protection.
- A tire failure.
Holding the Auto Industry Accountable
The most famous case involving the auto industry placing profits before the safety of motorists involved the Ford Pinto. Ford allegedly knew a serious fire hazard existed when the Pinto was struck from behind.
When faced a decision of delaying production and fixing the problem or moving forward with the existing design, Ford chose to stick with it. Their reasoning was that the increased cost outweighed the benefits of a new fuel tank design. And in the end, Ford’s decision resulted in as many as 500 fire-related deaths.
However, it did not have to happen. Ford engineers testified that 95% of those killed would have survived if Ford had placed the fuel tank in a different area as it did on its other automobiles.
Call The Boccardo Law Firm for a Free Consultation
Many motorists face going on with life following accidents that leave them paralyzed from a spinal cord injury or with a burn injury and broken bones that never heal correctly. Sometimes they even lose a loved one due to a wrongful death.
When you need an aggressive attorney to take on the corporate automotive giants, contact The Boccardo Law Firm. We fight for injury accident victims no matter how big the opponent. The car accident and truck accident attorneys at The Boccardo Law Firm are available to help you. Our firm has 80 years of experience obtaining fair compensation for Auto Defect victims.
If you or a loved one are injured as a result of an accident involving an Auto Defect or a defective car part, call us, at 408-298-5678, for a free case consultation. We represent injury accident victims in San Jose, the San Francisco Bay Area, and throughout Northern California.