A report released this past summer by IHS Automotive found that the average age for vehicles out on the roads and highways here in the U.S. is an impressive 11.5 years.
While this vehicle longevity has undoubtedly left many people satisfied that their hard-earned dollars have been well spent, it’s important that this long-term reliability doesn’t make them complacent when it comes to auto defects.
In other words, owners must not think that just because their vehicles have exceeded performance expectations over the last decade that they are somehow now immune to the possibility of their cars, trucks or SUVs being recalled for a dangerous — or potentially deadly — production or design defect.
By way of illustration, consider the ongoing massive auto recall initiated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration relating to faulty airbag inflators manufactured by the Takata Corporation. Here, the list of affected vehicles includes models dating back all the way to the early 2000s.
Owners of older model vehicles must also be mindful of the fact that their vehicles are not immune to other auto defects unconnected to the parts and components installed when the vehicle originally rolled off the assembly line. For example, a set of tires purchased in recent years may have been named in a tire recall.
While it pays for vehicle owners to be vigilant when it comes to auto defects, the fact remains that they often can’t account for every potential safety issue despite their best efforts or, more significantly, that the industry remains entirely unaware of a latent defect associated with their vehicle.
That’s precisely why it’s so imperative to consider speaking with an experienced legal professional in the aftermath of a car accident, as they can help determine whether the true cause of the crash was indeed an auto defect.
At The Terry Law Firm, we have considerable experience handling all manner of auto accident cases. What this means is that we know how to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding an accident, calling on the necessary experts to help piece together what happened, including whether an auto defect played a role.
To learn more about how we can help, please visit our website.
