Blog Archives - Page 79 of 115 - Care For Crash Victims

Who Owns Your Car? And Your Future?

May, 2015

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

The Consumerist reports a surprise:“Congratulations! You just bought a new Chevy, GMC, or Cadillac. You really like driving it. And it’s purchased, not leased, and all paid off with no liens, so it’s all yours… isn’t it? Well, no, actually: according to GM, it’s still theirs. You just have a license to use it.

At least, that’s what an attorney for GM said at a hearing this week, Autoblog reports. Specifically, attorney Harry Lightsey said, “It is [GM’s] position the software in the vehicle is licensed by the owner of the vehicle.”” Seehttp://consumerist.com/2015/05/20/gm-that-car-you-bought-were-really-the-ones-who-own-it/

When your past, present, and future safety are under corporate control…is that a new form of slavery?

Gandhi taught that one of the Seven Deadly Sins was “Commerce Without Morality”.

Lou

Availability of Information on Current Major Recalls & Victims

May, 2015

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

Information on major recalls is organized and available from the Center for Auto Safety.

* Jeep Gas Tank Defects see http://www.autosafety.org/jeep-grand-cherokee-fires-homepage

Jeep Victims Lists see

http://www.autosafety.org/sites/default/files/imce_staff_uploads/Jeep%20Injuries%20and%20Deaths%20Post-Recall%20Request.pdf

http://www.autosafety.org/sites/default/files/imce_staff_uploads/JeepLibertyFARSLog_6.pdf

http://www.autosafety.org/sites/default/files/imce_staff_uploads/JeepCherokeeFARSLog_3.pdf

http://www.autosafety.org/sites/default/files/imce_staff_uploads/JeepFARSLog_10.pdf

http://www.autosafety.org/sites/default/files/Grand%20Cherokee%20EWR%20Injury%20and%20Death%201993-04%281%29.pdf

* GM Ignition Switch Defects see

http://www.autosafety.org/general-motors-ignition-switch-recalls-homepage

GM Feinberg Victim Compensation Program Statistics (Closed with 107 Deaths) see http://www.gmignitioncompensation.com/docs/program_Statistics.pdf

* Takata Airbags see http://www.autosafety.org/takata-airbag-homepage

List of known airbag victims see

http://www.autosafety.org/sites/default/files/imce_staff_uploads/Takata%20Victims%204-21-15.pdf

Takata recall extended to Canada see

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/takata-airbags-about-1-5-million-recalls-listed-in-canada-1.3091109

Criminal Prosecution of Fiat Chrysler Called For by CAS

April, 2015

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

Clarence Ditlow, CAS Executive Director said:

“People are dying and Chrysler is stalling. This is the recall Chrysler never wanted to do and now refuses to do as required by law. NHTSA should impose the maximum possible civil fine under the law. The Justice Department should prosecute Chrysler and its responsible executives for criminal homicide for any deaths due to the delay in carrying out this recall. “

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM476309/RCORRD-13V252-0198.pdf

Lou

Are Auto Dealers Against Safety?

April, 2015

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

CBS reports:

“Consumer advocates have spent years trying to force used car dealers to fix recalled cars before selling them, but bills with that requirement have repeatedly failed to pass….”“These are issues that affect human life and safety,” said Calley Houck, a vocal opponent of the bill.

Houck knows firsthand about the dangers of recalled cars that don’t fall into that do not drive category. Both of her daughters were killed in a crash directly related to an open recall in their rented Chrysler PT Cruiser.

Like dealers, the bill allows a rental car company to rent you a recalled vehicle as long as they tell you about it.” See

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/04/14/consumer-groups-fighting-bill-that-discloses-used-recalled-cars/

Automotive News reports “Jim Click says he’s “all in” for Jeb Bush in 2016.

The co-managing partner of Southern California’s Tuttle-Click Automotive Group says he already has raised “a substantial” six-figure sum for Right to Rise, a super PAC expected to back the former Florida governor’s presumed candidacy for the White House in 2016.

And Click says he’s just getting started.

“I’d like to raise him a million dollars,” Click told Automotive News. “I’d like to raise as much as possible.”

See which political party dealers give most to

http://www.autonews.com/article/20150406/RETAIL07/304069970/dealers-place-bets-on-presidential-election

If politics is war by other means, who are the victims of this war?

Lou

Discount on “Car Safety Wars” + Federal Revolving Door Solution Proposed by NY Times Editors

April, 2015

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

Good News for our community. After I posted my April Monthly Report yesterday reviewing “Car Safety Wars” I learned that I can attach for your use a 30% discount coupon for “Car Safety Wars” by Michael R. Lemov. The discount only applies to purchases from the publisher Rowman & Littlefield. See attached discount form. My Book Review post is now up athttps://www.careforcrashvictims.com/assets/MonthlyReportforApril2015.pdf

Good news on the growing recognition of Regulatory Capture is a new NY Times Editorial that concludes:

“But consumer advocates are surely right that putting the industry in charge of supplement regulation is like appointing the fox to guard the henhouse. Clearly, the F.D.A. should not allow industry insiders to fill key positions. A permanent solution is for Congress to enact conflict-of-interest laws forcing employees above a certain grade level at any agency to recuse themselves from official actions that affect a former employer or client, including trade associations and their members.”

See http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/13/opinion/conflicts-of-interest-at-the-fda.html?mabReward=R1&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&region=CColumn&module=Recommendation&src=rechp&WT.nav=RecEngine

While this example was a FDA scandal, the Revolving Door – Conflict of Interest problem is pervasive in Washington regulatory agencies today with tragic consequences for the American people.

A year ago I noted some of the high positions held – previously and presently – by former industry officials at the White House, OMB, DOT, NHTSA and CDC. Titled “On the Trail of Responsibilities for Crash Deaths and Serious Injuries” it documented a widespread problem of life or death importance to all Americans. See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/assets/CFCV-MonthlyReport-March2014.pdf

Later in the year the NY Times carried an Op Ed by Clarence Ditlow and Ralph Nader that called for “Only a complete overhaul of the agency’s culture will prevent future recalls, since automakers will always place sales and profits over safety and innovation. This should start with closing the revolving door, adopting criminal penalties and increasing funding. All auto companies should have an independent, government-certified safety ombudsman to investigate complaints from whistle-blowers and to report defects directly to the chief executive and the agency.”

Hopefully this will all help Americans get the protection they need and pay for every day as taxpayers and consumers.

Your comments on the new book and my review are welcome.

Lou

Will GM Deduct Payments to Crash Victims?

April, 2015

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

A mother who lost her daughter in a GM crash has asked this important question on behalf of all American taxpayers.

“Our kids dying should not be a tax deduction.”

That’s the message from Laura Christian, mother of Amber Marie Rose the teen who was killed in July 2005 in an accident while driving a GM (GM) car outfitted with a defective ignition switch .”

Source: http://money.cnn.com/2015/04/09/news/companies/gm-airbag-tax-break/

See letter to GM and “response” attached.

Taxpayers should also know how GM valued the lives lost. Was it the $9.1 million used in the DOT Policy Guidance? See attached DOT Policy.

If GM were required to pay the DOT value and it not be tax deductible, then all Americans would benefit. GM would have a greater incentive to provide safer vehicles to their customers and to the protection of us all from uncontrolled vehicles.

Lou

Jurors Vote for Justice & Safety in Fiery Death of Child in Jeep Crash

April, 2015

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:“A jury in Georgia has awarded $150 million to the family of a 4-year-old boy killed when a Jeep Grand Cherokee exploded into flames three years ago after being rear-ended. The jury said Chrysler, the maker of Jeeps, must pay nearly the full amount.

Jurors in Decatur County ruled Thursday that Chrysler acted with reckless disregard for human life in selling the family of Remington “Remi” Walden a 1999 Jeep with a gas tank mounted behind the rear axle.

Walden, of Bainbridge, Georgia, was killed when the Jeep driven by his aunt was hit from behind by a pickup truck in March 2012. The fuel tank leaked, engulfing the Jeep in flames and killing the boy.

The verdict comes nearly two years after Chrysler compromised with a federal safety agency and agreed to a scaled-down recall of some older-model Jeeps with the rear-mounted tanks. The tanks have little structure to protect them if struck from behind, making them susceptible to punctures and fires.

Federal documents show that at least 75 people have died in post-crash fires because of the rear-mounted fuel tanks.

The 11-woman, one-man jury ruled after a nine day trial that Chrysler was 99 percent at fault for the crash and the pickup driver was 1 percent at fault. Jurors also determined that Chrysler failed to warn the family of the hazards of driving the Jeep. They ruled that the Waldens should get $30 million for Remi’s pain and suffering and $120 million for the full value of his life, according to a verdict form.

Mike Palese, spokesman for Chrysler parent company FCA US, said the company is disappointed with the verdict and would appeal. Chrysler, he said, was prevented from presenting data submitted to federal safety regulators showing that the vehicles did not pose an unreasonable safety risk.

“The vehicles are not defective,” Palese said.”

See excellent AP Report athttp://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2015/04/02/jury-orders-chrysler-to-pay-150m-in-jeep-fire-death

Tragedies + Advocacy + Lawyers + Jurors = Justice & Safety

Tragedy: See http://www.autosafety.org/walden-v-chrysler-trial

Advocacy: See http://www.autosafety.org/jeep-grand-cherokee-fires-homepage

CAS defect petition work that stimulated the NHTSA investigation. See

http://www.autosafety.org/jeep-grand-cherokee-defect-petition-file

CAS crash tests. See http://www.autosafety.org/jeep-grand-cherokee-crash-tests