NHTSA Admits Partial Blame for GM Ignition Recall Accidents

June 26, 2015 | By William Mattar, P.C.
NHTSA Admits Partial Blame for GM Ignition Recall Accidents

For the past several months, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been placing the blame on General Motors (GM) for a string of accidents related to faulty ignition switches. Now though, the agency seems to be taking part of the blame for those GM ignition recall accidents. Earlier this month, two NHTSA reports highlighted several mistakes the agency made that allowed faulty ignition switches to be installed in GM vehicles for more than ten years. According to The New York Times, agency investigators ignored signs that the parts could potentially be defective and also didn’t use its position of power to hold GM liable for the faulty parts. These findings have prompted the NHTSA to reevaluate its policies regarding how they handle investigations of defective vehicle parts. This includes requiring auto manufacturers to supply the agency with safety data on each vehicle. An oversight team of officials not affiliated with the NHTSA will also be created to implement these changes. At William Mattar Law Offices, we understand the important role accountability plays in preventing defective car parts from making their way onto the market. That’s why we offer a free case evaluation if you or someone you know was injured in a car accident. For your free case evaluation, contact one of our Syracuse car accident lawyers.