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Ford Sued over Engine Fire Death
March 8, 2007
The family of a man who died when his Ford caught fire and set his house ablaze has filed a lawsuit against the automaker claiming the particular model should have been recalled but was not.
Al Gavegan burned to death in August 2006 when a defective cruise control switch in his 1994 Mercury Marquis sparked an engine fire while the car was in his garage. The car was not running or on when the fire began.
Ford issued a recall of millions of cars and trucks, but neglected to recall older models such as the Mercury Grand Marquis. Lincoln-Mercury is a division of Ford Motor Co.
The family's wrongful death lawsuit claims that Ford knew of the defective switch and the risks it posed but failed to act to protect consumers.
The suit also names Texas Instruments as a defendant because it helped design the faulty switch.
The suit seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages and an injunction to force Ford to fix the problem.
The Updated Recall
Ford expanded its switch recall to include about 155,000 trucks and SUVs but it still does not include the '94 Grand Marquis.
Ford's latest recall affects the F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 trucks, along with the Lincoln Blackwood pickup and the Ford Excursion SUV.
Ford had previously recalled 5.8 million vehicles with the faulty switch because it had received 1,472 complaints and 65 reports of fires stemming from the product.
According to Ford, brake fluid can leak through the cruise control deactivation switch and into the car's electrical components, which leads to corrosion. This can cause overheating and possibly result in fires.
Harmed by a defective car?
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed as a result of a faulty car part or poor crashworthiness, please contact us today for a complimentary consultation with an experienced product liability attorney who can examine your situation closely and determine if you are eligible to recover compensation for your losses.
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