Lemon Law for California

Build Dates : February 01, 2007 - May 31, 2007

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 08V498000

Date Owner’s Notified:
Date Received by ODI: 20080926
Date Added to Databse: 20080930

Manufacturer’s Involved: COLLINS BUS CORPORATION
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: COLLINS BUS CORPORATION
Manufacturer Campaign Number:

Component: EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 8

Summary: 

Collins is recalling 8 my 2007 Bantam, Super bantam, or Grand bantam school buses equipped with module lock601-gd wheelchair lift interlock module manufactured by intermotive, inc. if the vehicle’s battery voltage drops to 7.5 volts, the module may go into fault mode and may not lock the shifter in park when the lift door is opened which fails to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, “platform lift systems for motor vehicles.”

Consequence: 

The vehicle may be moved with the lift deployed and could result in injury to the lift occupant.

Remedy: 

Collins will notify owners and repair the buses free of charge. The Collins recall is expected to begin on or about october 17, 2008. 

Factors in maintenance and modification which can contribute to motor vehicle accidents include:

Poor Maintenance of Tires - Tire blowouts from old, worn, or improperly patched tires can result in an accident.

Poor Maintenance of Brakes - Obviously, brake failure can be a significant factor in causing an accident, as an unexpected brake failure may leave a driver unable to slow or stop in order to maintain control of a vehicle, or to avoid a collision.

Older vehicles may be subject to axle failure, suspension failure, or a steering mechanism failure. When such failures occur on newer vehicles they may suggest a design or manufacturing defect in the vehicle. Routine maintenance and inspection can help prevent a mechanical failure from causing or contributing to accident or injury. Drivers should also heed manufacturer recall notices.

Dangerous Modifications - Sometimes drivers will make after-market modifications to their cars, without regard for the laws or vehicle safety regulations. Sometimes the modifications will diminish the safety of their vehicle, will impede their ability to properly observe the roadway, or will increase the danger to others as a result of collision. Excessively bright headlights or foglights, for example, can blind oncoming drivers. Where after-market modifications are performed by a company, that company may also face liability if the modifications contribute to an accident or injury.

The manufacturer of a product has the legal responsibility to see that it is safe in normal use. Yet every year,defective products cause hundreds of accidents, some of them fatal.

Nothing can replace the loss of a loved one. But when the loss was caused by the poor design of a vehicle or component, the victim’s family can achieve justice, peace of mind, and perhaps even prevent a similar tragedy from happening to someone else. In cases involving accidents caused by defective vehicles obtaining justice requires experience, determination, and a readiness to go all the way through trial.

We carefully analyze all aspects of the case to identify the true reasons for the product failure. We call in design, engineering, and materials experts who can provide expert testimony in court. We quantify the loss to our client and aggressively prepare for trial. Our objective is to maximize the compensation our client receives.

In a products liability case, the insurance company for the manufacturer wants to limit both their liability for the accident in question and the number of other potential claims involving the same type of defect. For those reasons, the insurance company and their lawyers will resist providing fair and complete compensation to the victim of the accident.