Attorney
In a further development to a story we discussed recently, General Motors added over half a million Camaros to its list of recalled vehicles a few days ago. This brings the total number of GM recalls this year up to 38.
The recall is for the remote key and lock combination, which it turns out can be knocked “out of the run position” by a driver’s knee. General Motors CEO Mary Barra will also appear before Congress soon to explain why GM waited more than 10 years before issuing recalls for a similar ignition problem in the Chevrolet Cobalt and other models.
Over 200 complaints related to the Camaros have been filed this year, but GM Vice President of Global Safety Jeff Boyer still insists that “Discovering and acting on this issue quickly is an example of the new norm for product safety at GM.” The automotive giant is nevertheless aware of at least three Camaro crashes in which the ignition switch issue was likely a factor, with four injuries stemming from those accidents.
GM hopes to find a solution to the lingering problem by switching the Camaro key to a standard design.
GM’s failure to communicate between departments about the ignition switch malfunction is a glaring example of the kind of insular management practiced by a corporate culture long held unaccountable. Huge, complex corporations are designed so that decision making is separated according to function, geography and product.
However, as our world becomes more and more interconnected, the problem will continue to become more and more urgent. It is time the corporations were held accountable for their reckless actions and focus on profits over people.
If You Were Injured in a Car Associated with the GM Recall, We Can Help!
When a company designs or manufactures a vehicle or a vehicular component part, it has a duty to do so carefully and safely, using proper testing procedures and following governmental regulations. If your car accident was caused by a vehicle in GM’s recall, call our firm today to schedule a free consultation to find out if you have a cause of action.
Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis L.L.P.
Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia Injury Attorneys