November 19, 2009

Garden State Parkway to Have New Bus and Truck Inspection Facility

According to an app.com article, the construction of a new bus and truck inspection facility should be finished along the Garden State Parkway by June 30, 2011 on the spot of the existing Herbertsville facility. Located at mile marker 94.6 on the southbound side of the highway, the new facility will contain a waiting area for passengers of buses that are determined to be unsafe after being inspected. The executive director of this project stated, “It’s not our intention to delay passengers, but if the bus shows signs of being unsafe, we need to pull it off the road.”

Based on authority reports, the article also mentions that approximately 1,185 buses have been stopped so far this year by State Police from Troop “E” based in Middletown, and 122 buses have been inspected by troopers and the Department of Transportation’s motor carrier and bus inspection unit. And buses aren’t the only vehicles being examined. Apparently 964 trucks out of 7,140 stopped were also inspected by DOT officials and State troopers for appearing to be unsafe.

Continue reading "Garden State Parkway to Have New Bus and Truck Inspection Facility" »

July 14, 2009

GM and Chrysler Bankruptcies Affect Auto Product Liability Lawsuits

Auto accident victims who claim they have been injured as a result of auto product defects in New Jersey and across the nation from Chrysler and General Motors vehicles are being left high and dry because of the auto makers' bankruptcy filings. According to this news report, consumers and consumer advocates are outraged that auto makers, that are being financed by tax payers, are throwing "consumer safety protections out the window."

The bankruptcy of Chrysler and GM has led to new complications, particularly with regard to product liability lawsuits. According to several consumer advocates, the car companies will back up their warranties for auto parts, but will not take responsibility for personal injuries caused by defective auto parts. So, for example, if your brakes are bad, they'll fix them. But if you crash and get seriously injured because of defective brakes, then your auto maker (Chrysler or GM) won't be held liable for that.

Auto product defects are more common than we know or hear about every day. Thousands of auto accidents occur nationwide and in New Jersey because of defective auto products such as tires, airbags, seatbelts, seatbacks, engines and steering. Defective design of a vehicle can also cause catastrophic injuries or deaths in an auto accident.

Continue reading "GM and Chrysler Bankruptcies Affect Auto Product Liability Lawsuits" »