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Volkswagen (VW) is facing a number of legal challenges as evidence has come to light that the car manufacturer misled consumers and regulators about the cleanliness of its diesel engines. CNN reported that the German car company programmed vehicles to emit lower levels of harmful emissions when the cars detected that they were hooked up to emissions testing machines. When the cars were actually out on the roads and not being tested, the emissions levels were much higher. VW may have gamed the system and cheated on the emissions test for around 11 million vehicles worldwide that were sold as “clean diesel” vehicles.

According to CNN, Volkswagen has already set aside approximately $7.3 billion in order to cover the costs of recalling the vehicles and fixing the issues that are causing the cars to be dirtier than they are allowed to be under emissions limits. Shares of the company declined dramatically when news broke that the problem of cars appearing cleaner than they actually were was a worldwide global problem for the car manufacturer.

Since the news broke, newspapers have been full of stories and reports about the company being sued by consumers. NPR reported towards the end of September that 35 separate class action lawsuits had already been filed by consumers who were misled by Volkswagen. The number was expected to climb, with more people filing claims for their damages and financial losses.

The cases against Volkswagen are based on product liability laws. Product liability laws allow consumers who are physically injured by products, or whose family members are killed by products, to file lawsuits with the help of Ft. Myers personal injury attorneys like Randall Spivey. Lawsuits can also be filed against manufacturers when defective products cause only financial loss and not physical injury.

Lawsuits Against Product Manufacturers

Lawsuits against product manufacturers may be filed any time a product has a defect that causes the product to malfunction and harm its user either physically or financially. Car makers and other product manufacturers are subject to strict liability rules, which mandate that manufacturers are always responsible for injuries directly caused by product defects, even without negligence.

There are also many other legal theories used in lawsuits against product makers. If companies are deceptive to consumers, as VW may have been by lying about vehicle emissions, this can be grounds for a class action, mass tort or individual claim.

If companies release a product that is not fit for its intended purpose or if a company is in breach of express or implied warranties, claims may also be filed against the business. Negligence, or a failure to follow reasonable standards of care and to comply with safety rules, can also give rise to claims against companies, as can intentional wrongdoing.

Whenever a product turns out to be defective or to cause harm, consumers should consult with the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. to find out what legal theory to make a claim under and what their options are for arguing for compensation. Attorneys with experience in defective product cases can also help to determine if a plaintiff should pursue compensation through class actions or through other types of litigation. Get help as soon as possible so you will understand your rights.