Category: Blog

First Known GM Fatality After Recall


First Known GM Fatality After Recall

September, 2014

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

NY Times reports: “Her accident, on March 18, is the first known fatality to have occurred after G.M. disclosed the defect and began recalling 2.6 million cars.”…. “During months of outcry over G.M.’s handling of the switch issue, as investigations and lawsuits mounted, the company has fought any effort to get the recalled cars off the road until they are repaired.”

See http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/26/business/after-a-gm-recall-a-fiery-crash-and-a-payout.html?hpw&rref=automobiles&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpHedThumbWell&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well

And I recommend reading the public comments too.

We are left to wonder how many more tragedies will be allowed to occur before NHTSA and GM act to adopt “Park It Now” that was recommended by Sen. Blumenthal and many others.

Lou

 


Truck Anti Safety Bill Introduced in Congress by Rep. Barletta

September, 2014

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

Shame!  

“A member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee has introduced legislation (H.R. 5532) that would order the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to stop publishing individual motor carriers’ scores under the Compliance, Safety, Accountability program until the agency has improved the data, according to a plan it would submit to Congress. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), also would prevent scores under CSA and the Safety Measurement System that underlies it from being used in crash liability cases.”  See

http://fleetowner.com/regulations/house-bill-would-block-csa-scores-public NHTSA data on crash fatalities in Rep. Barletta’s district shows that each year since 2002 about 2 fatalities occur in an average week — about 100 per year.  See my crash death mapping tool for each Congressional district for fatalities over the past decade athttp://www.arcgis.com/explorer/?open=ed97b17427b74b2e87ab925d55eb1313&extent=-20659591.7409969,875765.608846319,-3093254.85263374,8576895.45964956  

If  Pennsylvania constituents only knew….

Lou

 

GM Ignition Switch Compensation Plan Statistics

GM Ignition Switch Compensation Plan Statistics

September, 2014

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

The GM Feinberg plan’s first statistics are available (attached) and show: *  125  Deceased Claims Received, but only 19 determined to be eligible to date.

*  58 Category One (Serious Injuries) Claims Received, but only 4 Claims determined to be eligible to date.
For limitations on this GM Program to minimize the problem seehttps://www.careforcrashvictims.com/assets/MonthlyReport-June-July-2014.pdf
Lou

 

Trust NHTSA and Corporations or Not?


Trust NHTSA and Corporations or Not?

September, 2014

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:  

Two informative articles provide perspectives people concerned with crash victims should know about.   The first, in WardsAuto, argues that if Congress increases information disclosure requirements on auto companies, corporations would not be protected from monetary losses.  Seehttp://wardsauto.com/industry-voices/public-disclosure-industry-data-could-hamper-not-help-vehicle-safety

The second, in Automotive News, describes NHTSA performance in defending its failures to protect Americans from losses of life and livelihoods for a decade.  Seehttp://www.autonews.com/article/20140922/OEM11/309229959/now-its-nhtsa-under-fire#

Information on proposed legislation is at https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/blog-schakowsky.php

 

GM Gets Raised S&P Endorsement to Investment Grade Rating


GM Gets Raised S&P Endorsement to Investment Grade Rating

September, 2014

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

The Detroit Bureau reports:

“Despite the recall of more nearly 30 million vehicles in the U.S. this year, concerns about subprime lending and a lackluster showing in the stock market, Standard & Poors has given GM a much-needed endorsement, raising the company’s credit rating to investment grade.

The announcement comes at a welcome moment for GM, which has watched its share price slide 20% since the beginning of the year, even while the S&P 500 has gained 20%. It also coincides with a generally positive cover story in Time magazine featuring CEO Mary Barra.”

See  http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2014/09/gm-regains-investment-grade-rating-from-sp/

Without comment,

Lou

 

Senate Hearings Scheduled for September 16, 2014 on NHTSA Role in GM Recall Coverup


Senate Hearings Scheduled for September 16, 2014 on NHTSA Role in GM Recall Coverup

August, 2014

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

See my August 2014 Monthly Report (attached) on this next Hearing.

As we hear about violence in Iraq, think about the crash violence here in America going on now and for more than a century in the U.S.A. – more than 3.6 million Americans have died of crash injuries.
See Crash Death and Serious Injury Clocks at https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/clock.php
As we hear about boots on the ground, think about the NHTSA bureaucrats DUI of the auto industry and going in and out through the NHTSA Revolving Door.
Lou