Recently, Ford recalled more than 500,000 of their Escapes which were created
during the years 2001 and 2004. In addition, Mazda, their sister company,
recalled about 200,000 of their 2001-2008 Tributes, the car the mimics
the Escape. Both car recalls come after a variety of malfunction lawsuits
brought the dangers of the vehicles to light. In 2008, a woman driving
a 2003 Ford Escape panicked when the car accelerated out of control. She
opened the door and jumped out of the speeding vehicle, hitting her head
on the pavement. She has died from the head wound she incurred that the
accident.
In 2005, another woman was driving her Ford Escape when it accelerated
out of control and slammed into the school bus. Ford settled both lawsuits
involving the
defective cars without ever admitting liability. Instead, they simply quieted the victims
with money, and lots of it. Then, 17-year-old Saige Blooms’ story
hit the headlines. The young woman was driving her 2002 Ford Escape in
Payson, Arizona when it accelerated uncontrollably. The teen was thrown
from the car and died on the pavement. The horrible incident causing investigators
to look into the car's defects.
Research showed that in all three accidents, the speed control cables plastic
cover broke. The cable then got stuck under the engine cover and forced
the throttle open, causing the cars to accelerate at uncontrollable speeds.
The only way to stop the car from speeding would have been to put it into
neutral and glide it to the side of the road. Ford has recalled the cars,
but still hasn’t admitted fault for the accidents that have occurred.
If you have been harmed in a Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute accident, then
talk to a personal injury lawyer today to file a claim against Ford and
seek damages.