There is no doubt that 2021 has been a tough year for Ford. The automobile company has had several car models with safety and performance recalls.
The recent safety recalls announced this July were the most critical of all the Ford recalls, impacting approximately 800,000 trucks and SUVs worldwide. The vehicles affected by the recall include the Ford Explorer 2013-2021 model, Ford F-350 model 2020-2021, and Lincoln Aviator 2020-2021 model. These recalls followed a series of injuries reported due to a mechanical malfunction in the backup camera, washer fluid, roof rail covers, and rear control arm bolt.
If your vehicle is among the recalled, you need to return it to a Ford dealership to have the problem fixed to avoid the possibility of an injury.
Reasons for The July 2021 Trio Recall
The first recall in the series of July recalls was the Ford F-350 recall. Ford motors cited the reason for the recall as a rear axle weld issue that could cause a rear driveline disconnect, potentially causing loss of control over the vehicle.
The second recall involves the Ford Explorer model 2013 – 2021. In this case, Ford cited an issue with the cross-axis ball joint as the reason for the recall. In a press release dated July 16, 2021, Ford said, “affected vehicles may experience a clunk noise, unusual handling, or a misaligned rear wheel.” In the press release, the company admitted knowledge of six auto crashes allegedly associated with the problem.
In the third recall involving the Lincoln Aviator model 2020 and 2021, the automaker said the recall involved an improperly secured battery cable wire that could potentially cause a fire in the event of a short circuit. According to Ford, there have been no reported incidents or accidents related to this recall.
What The Recalls Mean for Car Owners
Although a recall shows that the company acknowledges a fault in its products that could potentially harm the consumer, it doesn’t mean that the manufacturer accepts liability for injuries caused by the product. However, a court may allow evidence of a recall to be used to establish that the product was defective.
Often recall notices don’t mention injuries as the reason for the recall because that would imply accepting liability. In the case of the Ford recall in July, there were six reported injuries associated with the fault. Ford admits knowledge of the allegations, but it is unlikely that it will accept liability.
However, this does not absolve the automaker from liability. If you have been involved in a car accident involving any recalled vehicles, you may be eligible for compensation under product liability law. Like other product manufacturers, automakers are responsible for ensuring the safety of their products to users.
“While an auto manufacturer is likely not going to accept liability for any injuries caused by their products, that does not mean they are not liable,” said Attorney John Cooper of Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers. “More often than not, it takes a seasoned personal injury attorney to get a manufacturer to accept liability for injuries caused by their product and pay the appropriate amount for the injury claims.”
What You Will Need If You Have Suffered Injuries from Recalled Vehicles
While you may be eligible for compensation for injuries caused by the recalled vehicles, auto manufacturers may not readily accept liability. They will do everything possible to deny your claim. If the automaker can’t find any reason to deny the claim, their other option will be limiting the damages. The automaker can achieve this by arguing in court that your injuries were not as severe as claimed.
Working with a personal injury attorney can help you put up a fight against the automaker and ensure that you recover total compensation for damages suffered. Additionally, you will need to gather supporting evidence such as medical records and hospital information. Your attorney will use this information, among other pieces of evidence, to help you secure fair compensation for your damages.
Hemant Kumar is a project manager at Tridindia with more than nine years of commendable experience in writing about LMS, translation, and IT. His unmatched talent and passion for digital marketing gave him the opportunity to work as a multi-tasking project manager at TridIndia’s sister company, Link Building Corp. Today, he contributes to the world by imparting knowledge on SEO, link building and internet marketing etc., that helps business owners grow their online business.
