Hirschi Steele & Baer, PLLC - 136 E. South Temple, Suite 1650, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

GM Recall Debacle Continues – Profits Down 85%

April 29, 2014 By

Over the past month auto maker General Motors has been on the hot seat as a result of its having failed to recall several million vehicles which were manufactured with a significant defect.  The fallout from the scandal has not only caused General Motors’ CEO to have to appear before a Congressional hearing, it has also affected the company’s profits.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra was recently called to task at a Congressional hearing as a result of her company’s failure to recall defective vehicles for over a decade.  The defect, which caused certain cars to spontaneously turn off while the driver was behind the wheel, resulted in least a dozen deaths.  General Motors had been notified of the defect in the early 2000s, but failed to notify the public of the problem, and failed to take corrective action.  As a result of recent public disclosure of the scandal, General Motors has been forced to recall millions of affected vehicles. Additionally, the company’s most recent profits dropped by 85% as a result of the debacle.

If you or someone you know have been injured in an accident involving a defective automobile, please contact us at  immediately (801) 990-0500  or contact us online today for a free consultation.

Filed Under: Auto Recalls

Avoiding Distracted Driving in Sandy

April 22, 2014 By

Everyone knows that a driver who pays close attention to the road is in the best position to react to unforeseen road conditions.  In today’s modern world there are an ever increasing number of potential distractions, all vying for the attention of the driver.  It is no wonder, then, that Sandy is seeing an increasing number of auto accidents related to distracted driving.  But, while many people are familiar with distractions such as texting while driving, and even eating while driving, there are additional distractions which Sandy residents should also avoid.

Talking on a cell phone headset

Generally people believe that talking on a cell phone while driving can be distracting, only because of the fact that the cell phone must be held to the ear, causing the driver to take one hand off of the wheel.  But, in fact driving while talking on a cell phone headset is also distracting.  Researchers have found that the very act of holding a conversation while driving, even though both hands may be on the wheel, can cause the driver to become unaware of emerging road conditions.  For this reason it is recommended that Sandy drivers do not talk on the phone at all while driving.

Dogs

Many drivers in Sandy like to take their dogs along on road trips both short and long.  And while having your dog in the car may not itself be a distraction, if the dog is allowed to roam the car freely this can present a dangerous situation.  Recent studies have found that significant numbers of drivers like to pet their dogs, feed their dogs, and even allow their dogs to rest on their laps, while driving.  These kinds of practices are blatantly distracting and hence dangerous.  Instead allowing your dog to roam freely in the car, it is a much better idea to properly restrain the dog while you are driving.

GPS

Another significant source of distraction for modern drivers is the use of GPS technology.  Though the technology is certainly helpful for drivers looking to find their way around Sandy, it is best to use the technology to map your course to your desired location before begin to drive, as opposed to using it to find your way as you drive.  If you find that you do have to use GPS as you drive, it is far better to use the vocal turn-by-turned direction system as opposed to having to look down at the device.

If you have been injured in an accident with a distracted driver, you can contact us at (801) 990-0500  or contact us online today for a free consultation.

Filed Under: distracted driving

Excuses Sandy Teens Give for Not Buckling Up

April 15, 2014 By

Seat belt use is one of the best ways to protect you and your family from devastating injury in the event of car crash.  Seat belts have been proven to save lives, a fact which is now common knowledge.  But among teens seatbelt use is at the lowest rates of any age range.  Here are some reasons teens and young adults give for not wanting to wear their seatbelts:

  • It doesn’t look cool
  • They’re just going a short distance
  • The seat belt is too restrictive
  • In the case of a car accident, seat belts can actually cause injury
  • I forgot

As parents it is important to underscore the importance of seatbelt use to teens and young adults.  Considering the 18-24 age group suffers the highest rate of auto accident, they are also the most likely to be seriously injured in a car crash.  This is why it is important to stress that teen passengers should  buckle up as well.  Especially when it comes to young adult males, who have a 10 percent less likelihood of wearing a seat belt than young females, the message of buckling up is especially important to get across.

Filed Under: West Valley City Driver Safety

Utah Woman Dies in I-15 Accident

April 7, 2014 By

Over the weekend a woman was killed in an auto accident in northern Utah near Brigham City.

Saturday evening a car carrying three passengers, including two women, ages 57 and 24, and a 25 year-old man, suffered an accident near mile marker 362 on northbound Interstate 15.  The car rolled over, ejecting the 57 year-old woman, who was the driver.  Authorities believe that she may have suffered from a medical condition which caused her to lose consciousness as she drove.

The woman suffered serious injuries including injuries to her leg and internal organs.  Though she was reportedly stabilized before being flown in a helicopter to a local hospital, later reports indicate that she succumbed to her injuries and passed away the same day.  It is not immediately clear whether or not the driver was wearing a seat belt prior to the crash.

Anytime someone is seriously injured or loses their life as a result of an auto accident it is a tragedy. We would like to remind all Sandy residents to buckle-up and remain vigilant when on our roads. If you have been injured in an accident, you can contact us at (801) 990-0500  or contact us online today for a free consultation.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Toyota Defect Costs Company $1.2 Billion – General Motors Likely Next

March 30, 2014 By

In our last post we talked about defective vehicles, and mentioned the Toyota situation as an example. Since that blog, a lot has happened. Not only has the Toyota defective vehicle situation reached a startling and historic conclusion, but now General Motors is on the hot seat with the government and consumers. But first, some background:

In 2009 and 2010 Toyota cars were reported to be suffering from a defect which caused them to spontaneously accelerate, without the driver’s pressing the gas pedal. The scandal, which actually caused the president of the Japanese auto-maker to personally apologize, was not only a result of the problem itself, but also due to the fact that the company waited to recall the affected vehicles, putting additional drivers in danger. Because of the defect, Toyota faced numerous lawsuits, including a criminal probe by the U.S. government. The company recently settled with the government for $1.2 billion.

This striking settlement comes just as another major auto-maker, General Motors, is undergoing its own scandal. In its case, GM also failed to recall cars which seem to have been defective, leading to over a dozen deaths. After the hefty sum paid out by Toyota due to its defective vehicles, it seems that General Motors is also going to have to pay out millions, if not billions, of dollars as a result of lawsuits over its defective vehicles.

Major auto manufacturers must be held accountable for any defective cars or trucks they produce and sell. If you have been injured due to a defective Toyota, GM car or truck, or any other auto accident, call the the Sandy accident attorneys at  866-322-2243 or contact us online today for a free consultation. We have the experience and expertise needed to help you recover for your losses.

 

Filed Under: Auto Recalls, Uncategorized

Defective Vehicles

February 3, 2014 By

Auto accidents often involve defective vehicles. You have probably seen a few highly-publicized recalls in the news in the last few years, such as the Toyota recalls for faulty air bags and defects causing unintended acceleration. What you may not know is that defects causing accidents and injuries are not uncommon, and most do not make the news, and many never result in a recall.

Examples of Defects

The majority of motor vehicle defects fall in one of two categories. Either a defect which can cause accidents, or a crashworthiness defect which causes injuries when an accident occurs.

Examples of defects which cause accidents include:

  • Faulty tires
  • Suspension system defects
  • Power steering defects
  • Faulty brake systems
  • Defective design leading to rollover

Examples of crashworthiness defects include:

  • Defective seat belts
  • Defective air bags
  • Poor roof crush resistance
  • Fuel system defects

Of course, there are some defects which have the potential of causing an accident, causing injuries in the event of an accident, or both. For instance, a faulty airbag can cause an accident by deploying when it should not.

If you have been injured in a car accident in Utah that may have been caused by a defective vehicle, please call our Sandy accident attorneys at 866-322-2243 or contact us online today. We have a track record of success and are here to help you and your family in your time of need.

Filed Under: Uncategorized
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