Defective products are always scary for consumers; but they are even more frightening when they involve a motor vehicle. Car manufacturers need to ensure that their processes are as fail-proof as can be; and makers of motor vehicle equipment need to use quality materials and methods to ensure the safety of drivers, passengers and others on the road.
If manufacturers are negligent in any way, or if they skirt accepted protocols to employ cost-cutting-yet dangerous protocols, then they open themselves up for liability. Victims of car accidents that suspect their vehicle was defective — or if an investigation reveals a defective aspect to their vehicle that directly contributed to the crash — can seek legal action against the negligent manufacturer.
This is important to consider when you hear about a defective windshield on the Toyota Prius, specifically for models from 2010 to 2012.
Toyota says they have received numerous complaints about the windshields, which create a “ghosting effect” with lights. Many drivers cited the issue happening at night, with taillights and traffic lights displaying in threes: the actual light showing in the center, and two “ghost” lights with one appearing above and one appearing below the actual light. As the car gets closer to the light, these three images merge.
Clearly, something is wrong with the windshield — maybe the material is low quality, or the angle of the windshield is creating distorted images. But in any case, it causes huge problems for the driver. The ghosting effect could make it difficult for a driver to see pedestrians; or it could disorient the driver, making them more likely to cause an accident.
Source: ABC 7 News, “Potential safety hazard in popular car,” Michael Finney, Feb. 27, 2013
- To learn more, please visit our San Francisco defective products page.
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