Latest Blogs

The National Crime Prevention Council says that almost anything can be counterfeited, and is. We may be familiar with counterfeit apparel, handbags, CDs and DVDs which are available at flea markets and street vendors, but we may not realize that auto parts, parts for airplanes and spacecraft have also been counterfeited. The United States Chamber of Commerce has estimated that the value of knockoffs and pirated consumer goods is at $650 billion per year.

Fake auto parts range from grilles and decorative hubcaps to critical safety components which include brakes. These fakes pose a definite danger to drivers. An executive from one of the vehicle manufacturing companies said that fake vehicle parts cost the U.S. auto industry $12 billion per year.

In early 2011 Boeing and the U. S. Navy found that the brand new P-8 Poseidon airplane had a defective ice detection system, used to alert pilots to the presence of ice on an aircraft's control surfaces. At a U.S. government hearing it became known that key pieces of the ice detection hardware which were sent to the P-8 production line, were counterfeit.

Some may believe the counterfeiting is a victimless crime. However, it is not. There can be serious safety concerns for consumers. Counterfeit goods are not made to the same quality standards or with the same quality materials, according to the International Trademark Association.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent, Lorin Allain said recently, "We are constantly getting tips and things like that about people who are buying these (counterfeit) parts. It's huge." Another HSI Agent, Daryl Pugh, said about vehicle rims, "These rims could potentially fail. You know you have an accident, hit a pothole which could later cause an accident because the rim itself failed."

A mechanic in Michigan, David Gucciardi who works on family vehicles said recently that, "With a 3200-pound machine capable of going 75 mph, quality of any part no matter how small the part is, a bulb, if my daughter hits a bump and a brand new bulb goes out, that is dangerous right there. The same as a wheel bearing or a front suspension part."

In a March 2015 news cast in Michigan Click on Detroit, reported that federal investigators say that the flood of counterfeit car parts have resulted in blown tires, bad airbags, and faulty ignitions.

To avoid fake parts: (Source: Click on Detroit)

• Do business only with reputable repair shops or the manufacturer's dealership for repair work.
• Stay informed about the sources of the parts you are purchasing or installing.
• Beware of the "too good to be true" prices.
• Use caution when purchasing parts on the internet that are shipped from other countries.

If you suspect your vehicle parts may be counterfeit, experts recommend you report them online to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You may also submit an online complaint on the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center's website.

"Counterfeit parts can cause vehicle accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle accident, our legal team of experts will help you receive the compensation you deserve," said Fort Myers Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.