If you are like most American adults, there is a “too much to do, too little time” energy that impacts how your life tends to unfold. As a result, it can be frustrating to learn that there is yet another effort that you should be making in order to keep yourself and others safer. Yet if you travel by car or truck  with any kind of regularity, it is important to take a few minutes once a month or so to scroll news related to auto recalls. The five minutes you take each month when making this effort may help you to prevent auto accidents and may just save your life or the lives of others.

Why Auto Recalls Matter

When an auto manufacturer unintentionally allows a defective part or product to enter the stream of commerce, consumers unknowingly place themselves and others in harm’s way by using that defective item. As cars are already dangerous machines, adding defective auto parts into the mix can result in injurious or deadly consequences.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the government agency most directly tasked with ensuring that defective auto parts are identified and either fixed or eliminated as a risk to travelers. By initiating mandatory recalls and supporting voluntary recall efforts, the NHTSA helps to save lives.

Car accidents do not always result from driver error, like distracted driving or speeding. Sometimes a defective auto part is to blame. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that as many as 44,000 car accidents occur each year because of car defects. If you were injured in a vehicle crash caused by a faulty car part, you may be entitled to receive compensation. 

Common Types of Defective Car Parts

Vehicles are made up of thousands of parts that have to work together. If one part is defective, it can lead to an accident. Here are several examples of faulty auto parts and how they can result in collisions.

• Tires - If a vehicle’s tires are defective, they can blow out, causing a driver to lose control of the vehicle and get into an accident. The vehicle can also roll over if there is a tire blowout.

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