Regulators Offer New Ways to Stay on Top of Recalled Products

Manufacturers, distributors and retailers are required to make sure that products meet certain safety standards. Yet more than 1,000 toys, drugs, motor vehicles and household goods are recalled every year. Thankfully, the federal government is making it easier for consumers to stay informed about these dangerous products.

Most recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it would make it easier for car, truck and motorcycle owners to search for important safety recalls. Starting next year, consumers will be able to search recall information by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

The NHTSA’s website, SaferCar.gov, currently only offers general searches by vehicle make and model year. Under the new system, consumers will be able to determine if their specific vehicle (or a vehicle that they wish to purchase) has been subject to a recall and whether it has been fixed. This is good news, given that more than 2.5 million vehicles on the road and offered for sale at used car dealerships are estimated to have unresolved recalls, including seat belt failures, rollover risks, engine fires and faulty brakes.

For consumer products, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) also provides recall information online. The CPSC’s database covers children’s products, including clothing and toys, household products and appliances, exercise and sports equipment, outdoor products and furniture. Consumers can search by date, product, product category and company and also sign up for e-mail alerts.

The Long Island personal injury attorneys of Michael Sepe, LLC have successfully handled a wide variety of product liability claims. If you suffered an injury caused by a defective product, we can fully investigate your claim and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.