Harris Lowry Manton Offers Safety Tips After Jeep Gear Shift Hits News Again
In April we posted news that Chrysler (FCA US) recalled 1.1 million Jeep Grand Cherokees, Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300s. The sleek-looking gear shift design prior to 2016 has led drivers to believe their vehicles are in park when they aren’t. As of April 12, 2016, FCA US had identified approximately 700 field reports potentially related to this issue, including 212 crashes, 308 claims of property damage and 41 injuries.
A death could be added to the list soon. The media this week reported “Star Trek” actor Anton Yelchin was crushed by his Jeep when it rolled down his driveway and pinned him to a brick post. Police had not determined what caused the vehicle to roll as of Monday. Yelchin’s Jeep was among those included in the recall.
Harris Lowry Manton attorneys have extensive experience in defective gear shift litigation. We suggest that before getting out of the car, drivers should double check that the shift lever is in park and listen for any warning sounds emitted by the car.
In 2009, HLM secured one of the largest “false park” verdicts on record on behalf of Jessica Mundy, a former accountant who was paralyzed after her Ford Explorer ran over her. Jessica got out of vehicle, turned back and saw it rolling. She tried to stop the vehicle but was knocked down, run over and suffered catastrophic injuries. A Georgia state court jury awarded Jessica $40 million after hearing evidence introduced by HLM lawyers that Ford knew of 751 complaints about the vehicles falsely appearing to be in the “PARK” setting.
HLM determined Chrysler’s defective gear shift lock mechanism was at issue in the death of a toddler who was pinned under the family minivan after the lever slipped out of park and the vehicle rolled backward. A jury awarded $4.5 million to the family of Madison Hamby for wrongful death and negligence.
For your safety, we recommend checking NHTSA’s safercar.gov website, which allows the public to check for recalls by the vehicle identification number, or VIN. The feature is available on the link provided. As for just the Chrysler Jeep, Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 defect, please see the April recall announcement. Consumers can also call 1-800-853-1403.
Harris Lowry Manton attorneys have decades of experience with product liability and catastrophic injury cases. If you need help, please call us toll-free at 404-961-7650 or fill out our online contact form.
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Harris Lowry Manton LLP is a dedicated full-service trial law firm. Our Georgia personal injury lawyers fight for the injured throughout every step of the legal process. We explain how litigation works from the moment you come into one of our offices in Atlanta or Savannah until your case is solved. Our legal team has achieved remarkable success because we leave no stone unturned when investigating our client’ claims and what should have been done to prevent their injuries. We file claims against all responsible parties — not just the most obvious one.
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