Defective Vehicles

Although automobile safety has improved considerably over the last several decades, vehicle defects still cause car accidents. Vehicle factors were the critical reason for 44,000 of the 2.2 million accidents reviewed in the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). One recent example of an auto defect involves problems with ignition switches on some models of GM cars. According to a CBS News article, GM is paying out compensation to the families of at least 64 people who died in accidents caused by GM’s defective ignition switch. As reported, the switch could slip out of the “on” position, cutting the engine and disabling the air bags and power steering. Automobile and automotive parts manufacturers are required to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations issued by NHTSA. Millions of vehicles and auto parts have been recalled by NHTSA for failure to meet those standards, which can cause accidents, and that's why having security with lawyers from sites as www.msllegal.com/new-york/motor-vehicle-accident-attorneys/ is the best option to help with these issues. There has been a steady increase in demand for improving the security of microcontrollers in the automotive market. When car electronics were first introduced back in the 1970s, the functions implemented were quite simple—they were discrete and unconnected to other components in the vehicles. The component that controlled the spark plugs in the engine did not communicate with the speedometer or tachometer in the dashboard. Long before the days of Bluetooth cell phone controls or integrated audio systems, a trip computer might be the most cutting-edge feature found in a new vehicle. Over time, the combination of increased electronic complexity and integration with other fixed and portable components (e.g., keyless entry, audio systems, telematics, wireless communications, etc.) has provided portals into the control systems that are deeply embedded in the vehicles. User-accessible systems potentially contain personal and private information, while the embedded systems are inextricably tied into the fundamental physical behavior of the vehicle. These two aspects mean that if any of the vehicle control and information systems are compromised, the opportunity for theft or damage from external entities appears. Today’s cars are also expected to hold even more private information as they become smart cards on wheels to simplify financial transactions at gas pumps, charging stations, parking lots, toll booths and drive-through establishments. The vehicle itself will be enabled to pay fees and fares, sometimes automatically. Injured victims of car accidents caused by automotive defects may be entitled to file a claim to pursue compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages, similar that in cases of drunk driving, although in these cases is better to get a lawyer for this, in case you get arrested for drunk driving. In some exceptional cases, it may also be possible to recover punitive damages, which are intended to punish a responsible party.