Ford Fires Heat Up the Courts

In most states, the law protects individuals injured by another person's negligence or by defective products. A personal injury lawsuit can be filed to recover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages suffered by the victim.

Take the Ford Motor Company case involving Nicole and Duanisha Mathews, who narrowly escaped their burning home last year in June. Apparently, the fire began in the engine of their 2000 Ford Expedition, parked quietly in the garage with the engine turned off. A faulty cruise-control switch , manufactured by Texas Instruments, was the cause, since it was discovered the switch has a tendency to corrode over time and catch fire. Worse yet, Ford knew the switches were dangerous but did nothing to correct the problem, putting millions of families at unnecessary risk of personal injury, disability or death.

Other people have lost their lives in fires that began under similar circumstances. In fact,
more than 100 lawsuits have been filed just in Texas and, last year, a jury awarded the plaintiffs in one case compensatory and punitive damages in the amount of $3.59 million.

Signs of a Problem with Your Cruise Control Switch

·         Cruise control does not work properly

·         Brake fluid leaks around the switch

·         Fuses are blown near the switch

·         Speed control fuse cannot be opened

Ford Motor Company has recalled more 10.4 million Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles, SUVs and pickup trucks since 1999 because of faulty cruise control switches. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration's (NHTSA) has received 1,472 complaints, including reports of 65 fires believed to be connected to this issue. However, reports to NHTSA are likely just the tip of the iceberg.