Posted: March 27, 2017
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), auto manufacturers recalled 53.2 million vehicles in 2016. This represents the largest number of vehicles ever recalled in a single calendar year.
There were 927 different recalls in 2016, equating to roughly 2.5 recalls per day. The Takata airbag recall accounted for a large percentage of all vehicles recalled last year. More than 29 million cars containing these defective airbags were recalled, and it's likely that this number will increase over the next year or two.
In recent years, vehicle recalls have significantly increased. In fact, 2016 was the third consecutive year that we experienced a record number of recalls for defective vehicles in the United States. In 2014, 51 million autos were recalled, and this number gradually rose to 51.2 million in 2015. Between 1996 and 2013, annual vehicle recalls in the United States never exceeded 30.8 million autos in any year.
There are two ways to view this trend. On the one hand, this growing number of recalls may be indicative of stricter safety regulations and increased efforts from the NHTSA. This is somewhat positive. However, it is also alarming that so many vehicles each year need to be recalled in order to correct a safety defect.
If you are notified of a recall associated with your vehicle, it's crucial that you follow all protocol established by the auto manufacturer and take care of the issue in a timely manner. Failure to do so may increase your likelihood of being involved in a car accident caused by your defective auto.
It's important to remember that you have rights in the event that you are injured in an accident caused by a defective vehicle. You may be entitled to file a product liability lawsuit against the negligent manufacturer to recover compensation for your damages.
The attorneys at Shapiro & Sternlieb have almost 60 years of combined experience, and we've handled numerous cases involving defective autos. Our attorneys will fight aggressively to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Please contact Shapiro & Sternlieb using the form on this page or call 732-617-8050 today to schedule a free consultation. We serve clients in Newark, New Brunswick, Englishtown and the surrounding areas of New Jersey.
