Motor Vehicle Safety Fraud
In the wake of a number of serious motor vehicle safety scandals, in 2015 Congress passed and President Obama signed the “Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act,” which established a Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Program at the Department of Transportation.
Under the Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Program, any employee or contractor of a motor vehicle manufacturer, part supplier, or dealership may submit information to the government regarding serious violations of federal safety laws. Serious safety violations may include:
- Defects that cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle
- Failure of safety measures such as airbags or brakes
- Ineffective crash safety mechanisms
- Spontaneous fires or explosions
In addition, as the motor vehicle industry continues its trend toward self-driving cars and other automated control features, the range of potential safety violations will only increase.
Whistleblowers whose information results in the government’s collection of over $1 million in monetary sanctions may be eligible for a financial reward equal to 10-30% of the amount recovered. The Department of Transportation takes all reasonable measures to protect the anonymity of whistleblowers.
Please contact us directly at whistleblower@cohenmilstein.com, if you believe you’ve witnessed any form of motor vehicle safety fraud.