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Recall Involves Vehicles in States Where Salt Is Used to Clear Ice and Snow from the Roads

June 11, 2012 General

Chrysler recently increased the number of Jeep Liberty SUVs included in a safety recall it began several months ago. One estimate puts the total number of vehicles affected to nearly 347,000. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, lower control arms in the rear suspensions in the SUVs can rust and break, possibly causing them to crash. The recall involves vehicles in states where salt is used to clear ice and snow from the roads, including those sold or registered in Connecticut.

Most consumers generally expect their motor vehicles to be safely designed. To the extent unsafe components are discovered, it may become the responsibility of the corporate entity to issue a recall — hopefully before it’s too late. Even the best designed vehicles may also fail if they were negligently manufactured or installed. In either event, if you suspect the fatal crash was attributable to a defective, unsafe or improperly installed vehicle component, you may be able to bring a claim for wrongful death against the responsible corporate entity.

Wrongful death from defective products may be a very real threat. According to data from several sources, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Agriculture, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the number of product recalls in 2010 has increased nearly 14% from 2007. Some experts believe the increase in recalls may be attributable to greater oversight by regulators, better testing procedures, and the use of social media alerts by consumers.

If you have a loved one who was killed in a car accident, an attorney can help you investigate all possible causes of the tragedy. An attorney can review the facts of your case and help you identify whether another person or entity was negligent. You may discover that the fault was attributable to more than just the other driver.

Source: USA Today, “Chrysler expands Jeep Liberty recall,” June 11, 2012