Chevrolet Cobalt Rollover Accidents
General Motors has recently announced a recall of all 2005-2007 model year Chevrolet Cobalts, as well as the 2007 model year Pontiac G5. The recall, announced in early February of 2014 and which affects roughly 800,000 vehicles in the United States, comes after a number of troubling accidents in which these vehicles were involved.
According to internal investigations conducted by General Motors over a period of years, problems with the ignition switch in these vehicles can both increase the likelihood of a crash occurring as a result of an unexpected loss of power and also make it more likely that the airbags will fail to deploy in the event of a crash. As a result, hundreds of thousands of individuals in the U.S. may be exposed to serious injury risks from their vehicles.
At the Willis Law Firm, we understand how devastating it can be to cope with the effects of a serious car accident caused by a vehicle defect. That’s why we are committed to providing those who have been the victims of accidents involving Chevy Cobalts and Pontiac G5s with the legal representation they need to effectively pursue justice.
Issues with the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5
GM initially became aware of potential problems with the ignition switch in some of their vehicles as early as 2004, but chose not to take decisive action for years, partly because the nature of the problem was not fully understood. However, as more accident reports appeared, including several involving fatalities, GM eventually decided to issue a recall to fix the problem, which is due to a problem with the ignition switch that can cause the car keys to unexpectedly switch to the “accessory” or “off” modes. This can result in:
- Loss of control
- Loss of power
- Loss of power steering
- Loss of power brakes
- Airbags failing to deploy
When a vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly loses power, it’s unfortunately easy for drivers to lose control of their vehicles, resulting in front-end collisions, side-impact collisions, rear-end collisions, rollover accidents, and single vehicle accidents. To make matters worse, because of a lack of power, should any of these accidents occur, it is likely that the airbags will fail to deploy, exposing the driver and passengers to increased risk of injury.
Additional Resources
If you would like to learn more about the problems associated with this recall, the timeline of events leading up to the recall, and how it may affect the owners of Chevy Cobalts and Pontiac G5s, please consult the following:
Contact a Chevy Cobalt Accident Attorney
If you or someone you love has been the victim of injuries resulting from defects in a Chevy Cobalt or Pontiac G5, we can help you pursue the justice and financial compensation you need. Contact the attorneys at the Willis Law Firm by calling our offices at (800) 883-9858 to discuss your case and find out more about what we can do for you.