Pennsylvania Product Liability and Auto Defect Lawyer Wonders Why Proposed Federal Laws Creating New Safety Standards and Increased Fines For Automakers Would Be Opposed By So Many of Our Senators and Congressman
As an experienced vehicle defect and product liability lawyer, I have fought hard over the last 32 years with many of my legal brethren across the United States to improve vehicle safety, maintaining that safety should never be an option and that automobile manufacturers ought to emphasize safety over profitability. 2010 is shaping up to be the largest year for recalls in the defective product arena. A Los Angeles Times article published on December 16th stated “The most comprehensive overhaul of motor vehicle safety laws in a decade which once seemed certain in the wake of Toyota’s sudden acceleration problems may never reach a vote from Congress."
Proposed legislation S.3302 has 23 major provisions that would create new safety standards and increase fines against automakers for violating Federal rules and put an emphasis for the first time on safeguarding electronic systems now ubiquitous in motor vehicles. Legislation evolved as a result of investigations into the fatal accidents involving Toyota and Lexus vehicles that were the victim of sudden acceleration. It appears the main obstacle to passing the legislation according to auto safety advocates seems to be a Republican contingent which states there are higher priorities.
In this experienced product liability lawyer’s view, safety is and should be the number one priority. I have handled too many cases involving brain injuries, deaths, and catastrophic injuries which could have easily been prevented if this new proposed legislation was in place. The proposed bill would require vehicles to have a brake override system that cuts power if the driver applies the brake and the gas pedal is stuck. The bill would also increase civil penalties for violations of safety rules to a maximum of $300 million from $15 million now and for the first time establish standards for electronic systems that now operate vehicles.
