Thanks to consumer advocacy groups, individuals injured by a defective Chrysler vehicle manufactured before the company’s bankruptcy, may sue the former Chrysler for product liability. The alternative was for individuals to battle with other creditors on the bankrupt company, which provided little to no guarantee of a monetary recovery for plaintiffs.
Auto product liability cases are prevalent in the nation, originating from the infamous, precedent-setting exploding Ford Pinto case. Most common defective vehicle design complaints stem from automobile crash-worthiness, specifically: defective seat belt design; defective airbags (e.g., failure to deploy at impact, or deployed in low-impact collision, causing facial and/or head injury); defective design of SUV rooftop (typically in roll-over cases, where the roof caves after just a few rolls); and defective design or manufacturing of brakes.
Washington Products Liability Act (”WPLA”), RCW 7.72 et. seq
In order to succeed in a suit against an auto manufacturer in Washington State, the injured individual has the burden to prove that the manufacturer was negligent by making a product that was “not reasonably safe.” The statute of limitations is 3 years from the date the injured party discovers the injury, but not more than 12 years from the date of manufacture. More than 12 years, and arguably, the product has surpassed its “useful safe life.”
Ms. Filutowski has a track record of recovering over $3.5 million dollars for her clients through negotiations, arbitrations, mediations and trial.
