In November 2014, a 42-year-old mother and saleswoman lost her life when her 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV suddenly began to veer off the road, causing the woman to lose control and the vehicle to roll over and land in a ditch.
The lawsuit filed by her late husband against General Motors Company (“GM”) alleges that a defective steering sensor caused the vehicle to lose control and ultimately crash and that GM knew of the problems with the steering sensor. Steering sensors are used to monitor the movement of the steering wheel and match the direction of the vehicle’s wheels with the positioning of the steering wheel. When a steering sensor is faulty or defective, the devices controlling the wheels receive inaccurate information, which can lead to erratic and unexpected steering.
According to sources that have reviewed key documents and transcripts from the lawsuit, GM launched an investigation into the steering sensor issue in 2018, which revealed that more than 73,700 warranty claims had been made related to that part. That amounts to about 10% of the GM SUVs manufactured between 2006 and 2009 — a surprisingly high number given that car manufacturers typically expect minimal defects rates closer to a small fraction of 1%. Even though nearly half a million vehicles with that component part remain on U.S. roads, GM has decided against recalling those vehicles related to this problem.
The attorneys at Abraham, Watkins, Sorrels, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner have been fighting for the rights of people who have been injured by defectively designed and manufactured products for decades. If you or someone you know has been injured by a defective vehicle, contact the experienced attorneys at Abraham, Watkins, Sorrels, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner at 713-396-3964 or toll free at 800-594-4884“>1-800-594-4884.