BISNAR | CHASE File Lawsuit Against Chrysler for Product Liability
California auto defect attorneys, BISNAR | CHASE, are heading the product liability lawsuit against Chrysler Group, LLC and Rusnak Corporation for manufacturing and selling a 1998 Dodge Caravan that had a dangerous auto defect.
The Mares family owned this 1998 Dodge Caravan. On October 18, 2009, they were traveling on the I-5 through Irvine, California, when the rear left tire blew out. Stephen, the father and driver of the Caravan, had to make an emergency stop on the right-hand shoulder, but as he did this, the rear of the vehicle set on fire. Stephen's wife and father were able to exit the vehicle safely, but Stephen and his two children sustained catastrophic burn injuries.
The lawsuit claims that the vehicle set aflame due to a fuel system defect. This defect was a poor design in the Caravan's fuel tank and fuel filler neck, which allowed gasoline to leak from the vehicle. Because the fuel filler neck was positioned near the rear wheel, the leak was in a particularly dangerous place. As the rear tire blew, debris and particles were thrust in the way of the gasoline leak, causing it to ignite.
This unfortunate accident could have been avoided by a better design or the inclusion of a fuel tank check valve, which might have prevented fuel from leaking out of the defective filler neck.
Chrysler Knew of Auto Defects Yet Did Nothing
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has previously taken action to make the poor and dangerous design of this defective fuel tank system known, yet Chrysler did nothing to repair the auto defect.
"By knowingly exposing the public to fuel-fed fires that often result in horrifically painful burn injuries, the defendants' actions are absolutely despicable in this case," said Brian Chase, a senior partner with the BISNAR | CHASE Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyers. "What's even more despicable is the fact that safer design alternatives were available at the time the Dodge Caravan was manufactured and that, after being made aware of increased fire dangers in its vehicles, Chrysler did nothing to warn the public."
The lawsuit suggests that the defendants likely did not repair the defect in order to save money in production costs.
The case is pending in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, case #6C044931.
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