The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee that rolled backward down a driveway and killed the actor, Anton Yelchin, early Sunday was a model that Fiat Chrysler has recalled for a gearshift issue that has confused drivers, leading them to accidentally leave the car in neutral when they think it is safely in park.
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Mr. Yelchin was killed after he got out of his Jeep and it rolled down his steep driveway, crushing him against a concrete-reinforced mailbox, a police spokeswoman, Liliana Preciado, said. Mr. Yelchin’s Jeep was part of a recall by Fiat Chrysler in April of almost 812,000 vehicles including the 2014 & 2015 Grand Cherokee models. That recall was prompted by an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, after complaints by car owners and reports of dozens of related injuries. |
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NHTSA: Preliminary Evaluation dated August 20, 2015
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced August 24, 2015 that it will open a preliminary investigation into 408,000 2014–2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs, after receiving several complaints about the vehicles rolling away after being shifted into park.
Currently, the NHTSA has received 14 complaints describing incidents where a Grand Cherokee has rolled away when the gearshift indicated Park. NHTSA’s Preliminary Evaluation paperwork indicates that five crashes and three injuries have been associated with the complaints. Rollaway incidents have occurred both with the engine running and turned off.
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Fiat Chrysler has been a prime target of the government’s efforts to penalize automakers for lax safety practices.
Last year, federal regulators accused Fiat Chrysler of failing to conduct recalls and complete repairs in a timely fashion, and hit the company with $105 million in penalties.
The safety administration released a statement Monday evening saying, “This is the first fatality we’re aware of that may be related to this safety defect and vehicle recall.”
When a manufacturer fails to exercise proper caution or makes decisions it knows put American consumers in harm's way, the experienced attorneys of Miller Weisbrod, LLP, will be there to fight for the individuals and families who suffer.
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Our lawyers at Miller Weisbrod, LLP are recognized as national leaders in the fight to hold the auto industry to account for the accidents, injuries and wrongful deaths that can occur as a result of corporate negligence or greed.
We believe that no minor cost savings should ever take priority over the lives of American consumers. Our capable attorneys welcome the opportunity to take on automakers who continue to make dangerous or defective vehicles.
The affected vehicles, which also include 2012-14 Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300s, use an unconventional lever to shift the automatic transmission. Instead of moving to a different position with each gear, the lever returns to a center position. The driver must look at the shifter to make sure the proper gear is selected.
When the recall was announced earlier this year, the automaker said it was aware of 41 injuries related to the gear shift problem. Car & Driver
After the April recall, Fiat Chrysler said in a notice sent to owners that “a permanent remedy for this condition is currently under development” and that the automaker hoped to “finalize” it by the fourth quarter. It warned owners, in the meantime, to use the parking brake and to always check to make sure the vehicle was in the correct gear.
Since the recall was announced, the agency has received at least eight additional complaints from owners of Grand Cherokees who said their vehicles had rolled away and crashed, although no injuries were reported.
If you were injured or a loved one died in an accident and you believe an unsafe or defective vehicle is partly to blame, please contact our Dallas offices at 214.987.0005 to discuss your rights and legal options with an experienced trial lawyer.
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