Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyers Blog

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration is once again receiving reports of vehicles suddenly and unintentionally accelerating due to floor mats; however the reports are coming from Ford and Mercy drivers not Toyota and Lexus drivers.

The administration has advised that drivers of model year 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles to not place any manufacturer or after market floor mats on top of the secured floor mat currently in their vehicle. Drivers who have stacked floor mat in this manner have experienced sudden acceleration. The mats have been known to interfere with the pedal and cause it to remain in a decompressed position. An accelerator pedal left in a partially decompressed position will hinder the driver's ability to stop or slow down the vehicle. As seen in the Toyota recalls, sudden acceleration is an extremely dangerous phenomenon.

While no recall has been issued, the administration is urging all owners of Ford and Mercury vehicles to ensure that the floor mats on the driver side of their vehicle are properly secured. Furthermore, no floor mats are to be stacked under any circumstances on any vehicle but especially with those who drive 2010 model year Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles.

Related Sources:
Consumer Advisory: Owners of MY 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Warned of Possible Stuck Accelerator Pedals

While convenient for large groups and families, 15 passenger vans have a high tendency to rollover. With summer approaching and many people planning vacations in these vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released the following tips to follow to guard against a tragic rollover crash.

Seatbelts - All occupants should wear their seatbelts at all times. Any broken or missing seatbelts must be replaced before any trip. An unbelted occupant is three times more likely to be killed than a belted occupant.

The Driver - The driver of the 15 passenger van should be a fully trained and experienced driver. The size and the shape of the vehicle make it considerably harder to maneuver than a standard car and the driver should receive additional training to drive the vehicle. Drivers should never drive for longer than 8 hours in a 24 hour time period and never drive a vehicle with more occupants than seatbelts on board.

Tires/Tire Pressure - Like all vehicles the tires need to be properly inflated and absent of worn treads. The tire pressure should be checked before all trips and strictly followed to the manufacturer's recommended pressure. Drivers should also inspect the condition and age of the spare tire that comes with the rental of the vehicle. Properly sized and inflated tires will help the driver maintain control of the vehicle while driving.

Cargo - All cargo should be properly secured forward of the rear axle. The roof of the vehicle is to be clear of any cargo and it is never safe to tow anything with a 15 passenger van. The van should never exceed the maximum weight that is listed in the vehicle owner manual.

Following these simple tips will ensure a safe trip for those travelling in a 15 passenger van this summer.

Related Sources:
Top Safety Tips for 15-Passenger Vans

Millions of vehicles are recalled every year due to defects that pose a safety risk to drivers and occupants but a study has discovered that only 1 in 4 defective vehicles are fixed once recalled.

The majority of vehicles that are recalled do not receive the huge press that the recent Toyota recalls have received. This lack of press leaves millions of at risk consumers ignorant to the recall. Unfortunately, for others by the time they are aware of the recall notice they have already been injured by the dangerous and defective vehicle.

Car companies are required by law to send recall notices to registered customers. They receive this information through the various department of motor vehicles offices in every state. If the driver has moved or the car has changed hands and the DMV is not notified it becomes increasingly more difficult for the manufacturer to contact the consumer.

The recent recalls of Toyota have all car manufactures and the federal government more vigilant in notifying the press and consumers of vehicle defects. Consumers can register for free at National Highway Traffic Administration and Driverside.com to be notified of all recalls to ensure their vehicles are not affected by any recalls.

Related Sources:
Vehicle Safety Recalls

Nissan Motor Company has recalled over 134,000 vehicles because a defect is preventing the airbags from deploying in a crash.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received reports that the airbags of Nissan Infiniti G35 sedans and coupes are not deploying in a crash which could cause serious injury to occupants and drivers. Nissan has reported the problem to be a defective connector. The wire harness may wear down over time and interrupt the signal to deploy the airbags in the event of a collision.

A red warning light on the dashboard will appear when the connection to the airbag is interrupted. Any consumers with a red airbag warning light on their dash should immediately take their defective vehicles to the nearest dealer to be repaired. Those driving recalled vehicles without a light should wait until they are notified by Nissan before returning their vehicles to the dealership.

Recalled Vehicles:
2005 - 2006 Model Year Infiniti G35 sedans
2005 - 2007 Model Year Infiniti G35 coupes

Related Sources:
Nissan recalls Infiniti G35 sedans, coupes