Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced they will be doing a full blown investigation of Chevy Volt cars that may be susceptible to a fire hazard following a car accident in Massachusetts or elsewhere in the country.

Bloomberg Businessweek reported the most recent incident involving a Chevy Volt that caught fire at a NHTSA testing center in Wisconsin. Investigators believe the use of lithium-ion batteries in the plug-in electrical vehicles cause them to be at risk of a fire hazard. Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf are two current models that contain these batteries, but it is expected that a plug-in version of the Prius and Toyota RAV 4 will also use these batteries.

Boston car accident lawyers know that defective vehicles are a growing concern as car manufacturers continue to advertise new and improved bells and whistles with each new model year. The new and improved part is what is in question here. President Obama's goal is to put 1 million electric vehicles in operation on U.S roadways by 2015. Vehicles containing lithium batteries could make consumers purchasing these vehicles leery after recent reports of fire-related car accidents.

In May, a side-impact crash test was conducted on the Chevy Volt. Three weeks later the car ignited into flames. Investigators concluded that the damage to the battery during the crash test is what caused the vehicle to burst into flames. Since then, the NHTSA has taken extensive measures to learn more about the batteries, the hazards involved in using them and has worked with the Department of Energy and Department of Defense to conduct strict test on the Volt's lithium-ion batteries. These tests involved purposely damaging the battery compartment and the vehicle coolant line. After the Volt was exposed to a real-world crash scenario and following a third test, the lithium-ion battery pack again caught fire at the facility raising concern for NHTSA researchers.

No recall has been announced but a safety defect investigation of Chevy Volts has been initiated. The NHTSA continues to support the purchase of electric vehicles in an effort to save consumers money in gas purchases, create jobs and help protect the environment.

Advice from the NHTSA:

-Consumers are encouraged to contact local dealers if you have questions about an electric vehicle.

-Electric vehicles that have been damaged should not be kept in a garage or near other vehicles after being hauled away from the scene by a tow truck operator.

-If you are involved in an accident, wait for emergency responders to arrive or if health conditions permit, exit the vehicle safely.

-Emergency responders should look for electric vehicle power indicators and exercise caution to avoid electrical shock from a battery pack or disconnect of the vehicle's circuits.

For more information about electric vehicle ratings or defective vehicle recalls, visit safercar.gov.

Continue reading "NHTSA Investigates Post-Crash Fire Risks of Chevy Volts Sold in Massachusetts, Nationwide" »

The new model 2012 vehicles will be going through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) 5-star safety rating program soon. Vehicles that have carry-over designs from their 2011 models have already been rated by the administration. The rates for vehicles that have already been through inspections are available on www.safecar.gov. When the new model cars are competed, their ratings will also be added to the website. All drivers are urged to go on this website to check out the new ratings and review vehicle recalls to see if any apply to your vehicles.

These ratings were revamped last year to make the program more thorough. Cars are now more than ever expected to come equipped with safety features that not only protect passengers in the event of a car accident in Boston, but to prevent them as well. As tests get stricter, vehicles most come with safer and more effective features.

Our Massachusetts car accident attorneys would like to announce that more than 80 percent of all new model 2012 passenger vehicles in the U.S. will be subjected to this testing. More than 90 percent of the vehicles in the 2012 fleet will be put through rollover tests as well. This year there will be nearly 75 new model 2012 vehicles that will be rated. This includes 42 passenger cars, two vans, 22 SUVs and eight pickup trucks. With the new rating system, these vehicles will not only be rated in a number of different feature categories, but will be provided with a single overall rating as well.

"Our 5-star ratings program is a critical resource to help consumers make the best possible decisions about the cars they want to buy," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

With more thorough rating systems, car manufacturers must raise the safety features to meet the standards, to receive higher ratings, to sell more cars.

The NHTSA reminds consumers "More Stars. Safer Cars."

With the new rating program, consumers have a better sense of which cars will do a better job at keeping them safer on our roadways. More and more vehicles are coming equipped with "crash avoidance" technologies. These technologies most times include forward-collision warning (FCW) and lane-departure warning (LDW), or both.

Nearly 70 of the new model vehicles come equipped with some type of crash-avoidance technology. Nearly 40 come with both.

For about 30 years, the NHTSA has used its 5-star rating program to help consumers to determine which cars are most likely to keep them safe on our roadways. With every year in which the program advances, vehicles must advance alongside.

You're urged to visit www.safercar.gov if you're looking into purchasing a new car. For those of you who are good with the car you've got, you're still urged to visit the website to read up on any recalls that may affect your family's vehicles.

Continue reading "NHTSA to Rate 2012 Vehicles and Their Ability to Protect Occupants" »

An SUV rollover accident in Massachusetts on Route 495 left one man with serious injuries recently, according to Boston 5. Troopers received a number reports from a several witnesses that said that a second vehicle may have cut off the victim's car and caused the accident.

The driver of the flipped car was ejected during the rollover and was later taken to Jordan Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the second vehicle involved in the accident was later arrested and is being charged with operating under the influence of alcohol, according to state troopers. The southbound lanes of Route 495 were closed and traffic was detoured over to Route 138.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand that some vehicles may be deemed safer than others through a number of studies. In the past, drivers of sport utility vehicles were scrutinized because of the vehicles' frequent rollover incidents. The main cause used to be because they were so top heavy. Now, these larger vehicles provide more safety feature for occupants, making them least likely to die in a accident, according to the latest death rates from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

"The change is due largely to the widespread availability of electronic stability control (ESC), which helps prevent rollovers. With the propensity to roll over reduced, SUVs are on balance safer than cars because their bigger size and weight provide greater protection in a crash," reports the IIHS.

The makers of these vehicles also have an influence on your safety in the event of an accident. Currently, South Korean automakers like Hyundai and Kia and German car makers such as Volkswagen are topping insurance industry's yearly list of the safest new vehicles. These vehicles are chosen for their ability to protect an occupant during a front, side and rear crash test. For an automobile to qualify for the award, the insurance industry group requires that vehicle to have anti-rollover electronic stability control and receive top scores in their roof-strength test.

According to statistics, American cars ranked beneath foreign cars when researchers studied death rates. Out of Detroit's Big Three, the statistics rank Chrysler Group as the clear winner, followed by Ford Motor Co., then General Motors Co:

-Chrysler ranked number one for the safest in the U.S. market with four vehicles: Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler two- and four- door and Dodge Dakota. Each of these vehicles placed in the top 25 for having the lowest rates of driver deaths and had no vehicles in the bottom 25.

-Ford had one vehicle, the Edge, in the top 25 lowest rates of driver deaths. Unfortunately, Ford had two Ranger pickup models that placed in the bottom 25.

-GM had six vehicles in the bottom 25, including Chevrolet Aveo, Cobalt, Malibu Classic, Colorado and Buick Lucerne and LaCrosse. GM had no vehicles that placed in the top 25.

The study concluded that non-American automakers took 20 out of the 25 spots for lowest death rates.They also took 17 out of 25 spots for having the highest death rates, according to Mlive.com.

This is another reason why not only the type of vehicle you choose can potentially save your life in an accident, but the maker of the vehicle you choose can contribute to your safety as well. Do your research on what type of vehicle to buy, but also practice safe driving habits to reduce accidents on our streets and highways.

Continue reading "Foreign Cars Proven to Better Protect You in a Boston Car Accident" »

Ford vehicle owners are urged to check with their local dealer as more models have made the recall list. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is urging owners of the 1998 to 2003 Ford Windstar minivans to bring their vehicles to the nearest dealership for immediate examination. These vehicles have reportedly shown signs of real-axle corrosion, according to a release by the United States Department of Transportation.

Boston car accident lawyers understand the risk of defective vehicles. We urge motorists to get their vehicle into a dealership if they are issued a recall.

Nearly 500,000 of these Windstars in salt belt states are seeing a recall because of a defect that typically causes the rear axle of the vehicle to weaken and crack after exposure to salt corrosion. If these cars go without correction, the rear axle could suffer a fracture, increasing the risk of a car accident in Boston and other areas that experience salt exposure.

A recall can be ordered one of two ways: either by the NHTSA or independently by the manufacturer. Either way, these recalls are required to provide information regarding the make and model of the vehicle involved, the defect that caused the recall and how to contact the company to correct the issue. These recall repairs must be offered to the owner of the vehicle at no charge. This free repair must include replacement, repurchase and repair labor.

Cars.com reports that more than 10 million cars were recalled in the first six months of 2010.

In attempt to correct these recall problems before they affect consumers, the NHTSA is now stepping in earlier by probing automakers when a complaint is received. The federal agency may even see more power and oversight over the automotive industry is Congress gets its way.

Safecar.gov, a service provided through the Department of Transportation, allows to you to search your vehicle through a list of recalled vehicles. Be sure to know you vehicles year, make and model when searching the database. You can also sign up for automatic email updates of any new recalls specific to your car, tires or child safety seat.

Continue reading "More Vehicle Recalls Pose Threats to Driver Safety in Boston " »

Underride guards on tractor-trailers have recently been proven inadequate and unsafe in Boston car accidents. Impact in low-speed crashes often times results in deadly consequences according to recent studies conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Boston personal injury lawyers understand the severity of these failing underride guards and urge you to practice safe and alert driving when sharing the roads with tractor-trailers. The IIHS has estimated that more than 5,000 passenger vehicle occupants are injured every year when their vehicles collide with the back of large trucks -- more than 400 people die in these accidents.

In the study conducted by the IIHS, three tractor-trailers were used: two carrying the underride guards of Canadian standards and the third meeting the U.S. standard. The results from the U.S. tractor-trailer raised questions about how and why these guards failed. The study also determined that the lower-speed accidents were the ones with the worst results.

The Canadian vehicles were able to stop the car before possible injuries reached the occupants of the passenger vehicle, while the tractor-trailers meeting U.S. standards caused damage that would have surely injured, if not killed, any font-seat occupants.

"You might be riding in a vehicle that earns top marks in frontal crash tests, but if the truck's underride guard fails -- or isn't there at all -- your chances of walking away from even a relatively low-speed crash aren't good," reported the IIHS.

"Damage to the cars in some of these tests was so devastating that it's hard to watch the footage without wincing. If these had been real-world crashes, there would be no survivors," said IIHS President Adrian Lund.

Continue reading "Faulty Underride Guard Regulations Cause Increased Risk of Fatal Boston Car Accidents" »

Toyota Motor Corporation can breathe a sigh of relief after a recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Transportation. regarding an investigation into unintended acceleration in certain Toyota models.

Toyota has been under tremendous scrutiny the last several months for producing faulty parts in vehicles which have led to serious accidents all over the country.

Our Boston personal injury lawyers want buyers to beware prior to purchasing their next vehicle. Despite the outcome of the recent investigation by NHTSA, car manufacturers produce thousands of vehicles a year and it is the industry's responsibility to make sure they are safe and functioning properly.

The government made its announcement after testing fewer than 100 Toyotas. Toyota sold more than 8 million vehicles last year.

Faulty parts like accelerator pedals and floor mats causing the car to accelerate without the driver operating can lead to a serious or fatal Boston car accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) employed engineers from NASA to study and test potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in certain models of Toyotas. NASA engineers, experienced in computer controlled electronic systems, software integrity, and electromagnetic interference; found no electronic defects in Toyota vehicles.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, "We enlisted the best and brightest engineers to study Toyota's electronics systems, and the verdict is in. There is no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas."

According to a follow-up statement posted on Toyota.com by Steve St. Angelo, Toyota's Chief Quality Officer for North America said "Toyota welcomes the findings of NASA and NHTSA regarding our Electronic Throttle Control System with intelligence (ETCS-i) and we appreciate the thoroughness of their review."

St. Angelo continues by stating "We will continue to develop and equip Toyota and Lexus vehicles with industry-leading safety technologies, including many based on breakthroughs in sophisticated electronics systems. We will also continue to cooperate fully with NHTSA and respected outside experts in order to help ensure that our customers have the utmost confidence in the safety and reliability of our vehicles."

The NHTSA is proposing the following actions be taken following the recent investigation of Toyota:

-Look into the placement and design of brake and accelerator pedals to determine if placement can be improved.

-Administer research on reliability and security of electronic control systems.

-Require that event data recorders and brake override systems be installed in all passenger vehicles, as well as, making keyless ignition systems a standard operation by the end of this year.

"While today marks the end of our study with NASA, our work to protect millions of American drivers continues," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "The record number of voluntary recalls initiated by automakers last year is also very good news, and shows that we can work cooperatively with industry to protect consumers."

It should be noted that Toyota recalled almost 8 million vehicles in the last 2 years for the sticky pedal and pedal entrapment by floor mats. Failure to recall in a timely manner led to $48.8 million in civil penalties cited by the government for these actions.

Continue reading "No electronic defect found in Toyotas; defective vehicles can lead to serious or fatal Boston car accidents" »

Insurance companies are gearing up to recover losses from Toyota on claims insurers paid for accidents caused by defective vehicles, the Associated Press reported.

Toyota owners may also be eligible for reimbursement of deductibles and out-of-pocket medical expenses. However, consulting with a Boston car accident lawyer experienced in handling defective vehicle claims is the best course of action for anyone dealing with a traffic accident involving a defective vehicle.

The move by some of the nation's largest insurers, including Geico, State Farm and Allstate, is the latest setback for the embattled automaker, which has recalled more than 6 million vehicles this year amid reports of sticking gas pedals, faulty brakes and other safety issues.

Earlier this month, Toyota agreed to pay a $16.375 fine levied by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The largest fine ever imposed on an automaker by the U.S. government accused Toyota of "failing to report known safety problems as it is required to do under the law."

And the problems continued last week after Consumer Reports issued a rare "Don't Buy" warning against the Lexus GX 460 SUV, part of Toyota's flagship luxury line, amid concerns about possible rollover accidents. Toyota issued a recall after the report.

The NHTSA has linked 52 deaths to claims of sudden acceleration in Toyotas. More than 100 personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits have been field across the country. Those suits are currently being consolidated by a federal judge in California, along with more than 100 suits from Toyota owners claiming they have been financially harmed by the falling resale values of their vehicles.

Continue reading "Insurers to sue Toyota for claims; Massachusetts car accident victims may be entitled to refund" »