Orlando Personal Injury Lawyer Following Ford F-150 Pickup Recall
Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham is monitoring reports of a new recall involving Ford’s popular F-150 pickup trucks. Ford Motor Company recently announced that they were recalling 150,000 F-150s due to problems with airbags deploying unexpectedly without having been triggered by any impact. Ford has traced the problem to an airbag control wire located within the steering wheel assembly that may have been installed incorrectly. Unless the wire is in the proper location, it can move around during normal driving, and this movement can potentially erode the protective coating from the wire. When the exposed wire comes into contact with the metal, it creates a path to ground, resulting in the airbag light coming on and the potential for airbag deployment with no warning.
Ford claims that the recall is limited to F-150s made in 2005 and 2006. However, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration memo in November 2010 told Ford that the recall could be expanded to include F-150s made from 2004 to 2006, affecting a significantly higher number of 1.3 million trucks. Ford has traced the majority of the airbag deployment problems to F-150s made at the company’s Norfolk, Virginia plant during the first shift. Ford also makes these pickups at plants in Michigan and Missouri, but the company is focusing on trucks made in Norfolk.
The NHTSA launched an investigation into the airbag problems last year after receiving complaints of at least 238 incidents where airbags opened unexpectedly and without a collision. Most incidents occurred seconds after the truck had been started when drivers and passengers were still parked. However, in 77 of the 238 known cases, the airbag deployed while the truck was in motion, creating a serious safety hazard for drivers, passengers and nearby motorists. Recall notices are expected to begin going out sometime in March, and Ford cautions F-150 owners that if the airbag light in their truck comes on occasionally for no apparent reason, they should contact their Ford dealer as soon as possible and have this wire replaced.
The prospect of an airbag deploying while a driver is traveling at any speed is very disturbing and potentially deadly. If you have ever had an airbag deploy in an accident, you know that they deploy with explosive force and prevent drivers from controlling the vehicle. Are you an F-150 owner who has been injured when the airbag deployed without warning? If so, you may be eligible for compensation. For more information, call Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to schedule a consultation to discuss the incident. He has a proven record of success in product liability cases, and he will work hard to help you receive the maximum possible compensation. Call today, and get an experienced product liability attorney on your side!
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.