GM Recalls Another 200,000 Vehicles, This Time For Brake Issues

General Motors Co. has faced plenty of problems in the past year. Recalls from electrical issues to gasket leaks to air bag failures, it seems we can’t go a week without hearing about a new one. This week, it was reported that GM had to recall around 221,000 new Cadillac XTS and Chevy Impala cars, worldwide, due to improper braking. This issue was discovered after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ran an investigation –recalling 205,000 cars in the U.S. alone. 

So what does “improper braking” mean? This problem is actually pretty serious and can cause excessive heat as well as poor performance. Of course, if your brakes are not performing properly, an accident is more likely to happen. Although it’s not the most prevalent cause of car accidents, vehicle failure does account for a good amount of road collisions –which is why it’s so important to keep your vehicle in the best condition. In the case of these GM vehicles, the cars “may have experienced poor vehicle acceleration, undesired deceleration, excessive brake heat, and premature wear to some brake components.” In a nutshell, this means that cars are at risk of stopping when unprompted, which of course could possibly to a rear end collisions.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a car crash or truck accident in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, Livonia, Dearborn, Canton, Westland, Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Waterford or any other city in Michigan, make sure to contact Motor City Accident Attorneys by calling 1-800-411-PAIN. Motor City Accident Attorneys know how stressful a car accident can be and want to help you get back on your feet. They will fight tirelessly for your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve, according to your specific case. Make sure to follow Motor City Accident Attorneys on Twitter (@MCAccidentAtty) and Facebook. Join the conversation by using #MCAA.

GM and NHTSA Share Blame For Ignition System Failure

It’s no secret that GM has faced increasingly high issues lately when it comes to their vehicle safety. Their flawed ignition system alone has been tied to around 19 deaths. However, federal safety regulators are now sharing the blame. Congressional investigators ran a report that decided that the blame can’t be placed on GM alone. These ignition systems had multiple flaws: they caused cars to shut off while driving, disabled air bags and anti-lock brakes.  The report, done by the House, stated that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration staff failed to understand how the cars safety system works as well as how they failed.

Of course, the agency disagreed and claimed that GM employees withheld important information. GM has since admitted fault and released a report as well as initiated a program with the goal of compensating all victims. The report does reflect that GM bears most of the responsibility, but also states that the “NHTSA is flawed in that they have struggled to keep pace with the industry and fails to hold itself to the same standard as those it regulates.” While there is a battle between GM and NHTSA in regards to who’s to blame, it’s good to know that those who have been affected by these flawed vehicles are being compensated accordingly.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a car crash or truck accident in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, Livonia, Dearborn, Canton, Westland, Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Waterford or any other city in Michigan, make sure to contact Motor City Accident Attorneys by calling 1-800-411-PAIN. Motor City Accident Attorneys know how stressful a car accident can be and want to help you get back on your feet. They will fight tirelessly for your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve, according to your specific case. Make sure to follow Motor City Accident Attorneys on Twitter (@MCAccidentAtty) and Facebook. Join the conversation by using #MCAA.

GPS Safety While On the Road

The invention of the Global Positioning System or GPS for short, was a game changer. We’ve gone from using maps to printing out directions from the internet to the ever popular GPS that has taken over the world. GPS works off a satellite navigation system that provides location and time information anywhere on Earth –helping you get from point A to point B quicker and with more ease. But some believe that, despite how convenient Global Positioning Systems are, there might be a level of danger if you’re using one while driving. 

There’s really no way around using a GPS –it’s a normal every day item most people use. So instead, lets focus on how to drive as safe as possible while using one. First off, it’s important you know exactly how the GPS works so you don’t have any trouble while you’re on the road. Once you’ve mastered it, make sure to always program your destination before you leave. This will help avoid you having to type while driving. Another tip is to turn on the voice commands so that you don’t have to rely on looking at the GPS every minute to make sure you’re going the right way. All you have to do is wait for the command and you’ll know exactly where to go –saving you from a potential car accident or truck crash.

Follow these tips and you will avoid getting distracted by the GPS without compromising the use of it as a whole! If you or someone you know has been involved in a car crash or truck accident in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, Livonia, Dearborn, Canton, Westland, Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Waterford or any other city in Michigan, make sure to contact Motor City Accident Attorneys by calling 1-800-411-PAIN. Motor City Accident Attorneys know how stressful a car accident can be and want to help you get back on your feet. They will fight tirelessly for your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve, according to your specific case. Make sure to follow Motor City Accident Attorneys on Twitter (@MCAccidentAtty) and Facebook. Join the conversation by using #MCAA.

Tips for Avoiding Bicycle Fatalities

Riding your bicycle as a means of transportation can be dangerous. Just this past week, a bicyclist was struck by a car in Clinton County, Michigan and the accident proved to be fatal. Of course, it’s impossible to avoid bicycle accidents 100% of the time, but there are ways we can go about learning how to effectively share the road with bicyclists.

It’s important that both cyclists and drivers understand how important it is to follow the rules in place if it means they could avoid an accident. Most bicyclist fatalities take place between 4 p.m. and midnight, which means darkness is definitely a factor. Many find it hard to spot a bicyclist during the day and of course at night visibility gets worse. Drivers often turn in front of bicyclists thinking that they will be able to make it in time to avoid a collision, but in this case it’s always best to yield to bicyclists. Accidents are also common in areas like parking lots and stop signs where the driver fails to notice a bicyclist is traveling in close proximity, leading to a collision.

Drivers are not the only ones who would benefit from following the rules more closely. Bicyclists have been known to ride between parked cars, turn suddenly, ride through a stop sign or ride in the wrong direction which is extremely unsafe. Another issue that has been discussed is driving under the influence. Both drivers and bicyclists have been known to drink and operate –which impairs their senses even more and could lead to collisions. By simply being more aware of your surroundings and being in the moment and vigilant of every driver around you –you could help avoid an accident no matter how big or small.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a car crash or truck accident in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, Livonia, Dearborn, Canton, Westland, Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Waterford or any other city in Michigan, make sure to contact Motor City Accident Attorneys by calling 1-800-411-PAIN. Motor City Accident Attorneys know how stressful a car accident can be and want to help you get back on your feet. They will fight tirelessly for your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve, according to your specific case. Make sure to follow Motor City Accident Attorneys on Twitter (@MCAccidentAtty) and Facebook. Join the conversation by using #MCAA.

What To Do When Your Car Overheats

Even though the summer is coming to an end, it can still get unbearable hot outside. Aside from your body overheating, you also have to worry about your car engine overheating. What happens when your car overheats? Your engine could face damage that could lead to a car crash or truck accident. How can you tell if your engine is overheating? For one, you can check the dash and see if the needle is pointing toward the ‘H’ or sitting nicely in the middle. The goal is for the need to be directly between the ‘C’ (cold) and ‘H’ (hot). If you see the needle getting closer to the ‘H’, it’s time to take action. What is the  first thing you should do in that case? Turn the air conditioner off.

What is the best thing to have in the car in regards to an overheated engine? Coolant (or antifreeze) and a gallon of water. If the coolant in the engine is low, the engine will overheat. If that indeed is the issue, topping it off with some coolant will solve the problem. If that doesn’t work, the water will help bring the temperatures back to normal even if only temporarily. What if none of these tips help the situation? Pull over, turn the engine off and watch for any steam or smoke. Even if it’s not smoking, it usually takes around 30 minutes for the average engine to cool down and be safe enough to handle. The next step in that case would be to call a mechanic so they can figure out where the issue stemmed from and make a plan to fix it.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a car crash or truck accident in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, Livonia, Dearborn, Canton, Westland, Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Waterford or any other city in Michigan, make sure to contact Motor City Accident Attorneys by calling 1-800-411-PAIN. Motor City Accident Attorneys know how stressful a car accident can be and want to help you get back on your feet. They will fight tirelessly for your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve, according to your specific case. Make sure to follow Motor City Accident Attorneys on Twitter (@MCAccidentAtty) and Facebook. Join the conversation by using #MCAA.