Rollaway Car Accidents Lawyer
The number of vehicle recalls and investigations related to rollaway danger is staggering. Since the 1970s, rollaway vehicles have been a constant problem, and with new technology such as keyless ignitions and e-shifters, rollaway injuries are on the rise. Automakers have launched at least 95 recalls and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened 18 investigations, with at least one pending.
Despite the tools and technology available for automakers to prevent rollaway cars, they aren’t widespread or mandatory in the U.S. For instance, Electric Parking Brakes (EPBs) were developed more than a decade ago. Vehicles with an electronic gear-shifting system, or e-shifter https://www.cbsnews.com/news/electronics-shift-gear-at-gadget-show/ can be designed to include automatic Park engagement when the driver doesn’t shift the vehicle into Park.
At The Killino Firm we believe that automakers have a responsibility to American consumers and should be held accountable for making and selling defective products. Our rollaway car accident lawyers are experts at digging deep and fighting foreign manufacturers and other companies and individuals that want to save a few pennies but in the process put American’s safety at risk.
Rollaway Vehicle Recalls
Recalls have been as recent as May and June of 2019. Ford announced in May a recall of more than 270,000 of their vehicles after it was discovered that they could shift gears on their own and “roll away” while in Park. And Porsche –just one month later– is recalling over 108,400 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada for rollaway dangers related to the gear shifters. (Porsche says it is unaware of any crashes or injuries related to this issue.)
In April 2019, the Associated Press reported that more than 300,000 vehicles in North America are being recalled because a transmission problem could cause them to roll away unexpectedly. The recall covers Dodge Dart compact cars from 2013 through 2016 with six-speed automatic transmissions.
Although The Killino Firm has recovered millions in compensation for our clients, our true accomplishment is promoting safer highways for every American and his/her family.
Bushing Failure Danger
Fiat Chrysler said a bushing can fail, causing the shifter cable to come loose from the transmission. Should this happen, when a driver shifts to park or another gear, the gear may not change and the car could roll away. Ford also had bushing problems. The automaker recalled more than 504,000 Escape and Fusion vehicles over deteriorated bushings that could detach from the transmission shifter cable. This means that the driver could put the shift lever into Park and remove the key, when the transmission is not actually in the Park position.
E-Shifter Danger
Safety Research & Strategies Inc. reported in July 2018 that the Monostable e-shifter was linked to at least 266 crashes, 308 reports of property damage and 68 injuries, and was criticized for confusing drivers about the gear state. The design proved so troublesome that Fiat Chrysler abandoned it in the Dodge Charger and Chrysler vehicles after the 2015 model year and in the Jeep Grand Cherokee in the 2016 model year.
NHTSA in 2016 began investigating more than 850,000 vehicles, mostly the 2014 and 2015 Grand Cherokees equipped with e-shift. “Government investigators found it is not intuitive and provides poor tactile and visual feedback to the driver, increasing the potential for unintended gear selection, “reported CBS News.
That investigation claims reports of 121 crashes, resulting in several people being hospitalized.
Keyless Ignition Danger
Keyless ignition vehicles have further increased rollaway danger by allowing human errors. With the keyless system, the driver could remember to turn the engine off but forget to shift into Park. With a softly running engine and no key to disengage, drivers can inadvertently step out of the car while it’s in gear, allowing it to rollaway and possibly hit another vehicle, wall or other obstacle. Or cause injury to others.
In December 2011, NHTSA published a notice https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/fmvss/Theft.comments.extension.pdf regarding Rollaway prevention and a proposed rule that addressed safety issues arising from increasing variations of keyless ignition controls, and the operation of those controls. The NHTSA advises reading your owner’s manual carefully so you know how to operate your vehicle’s system properly. It also says it’s essential to develop good driver habits, such as making sure your car is in park and the engine is shut off before departing from the vehicle. The NHTSA also suggests watching its video on basic safety tips for living with keyless ignitions.
At The Killino Firm, we recognize that these rollaway deaths and injuries often change our clients’ lives forever. As a result, we provide personalized and caring representation, while zealously fighting for our clients at every stage of their cases, including trial, if necessary.
Victims of rollaway auto injuries hire The Killino Firm because they know we will thoroughly investigate every rollaway vehicle injury and that our clients will receive all of the compensation they are entitled to. We employ a team of attorneys, paralegals and investigators knowledgeable about rollaway accidents.
We also understand that our clients have suffered serious, at times catastrophic, injuries, and need a law office with a rollaway death lawyer or rollaway car accident lawyer that will deal with the insurance companies and guide the clients and their families through the maze of medical care and treatment that they face.
