Motor Vehicle Safety Act

Congress enacted the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 (Act) to reduce traffic accidents and deaths and injuries resulting from traffic accidents. Congress directed the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to issue motor vehicle safety standards. This task was delegated to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which was set up to carry out safety programs. Besides adopting motor vehicle safety standards, the NHTSA investigates safety defects in automobiles and trucks and orders vehicle recalls when necessary.

Recovering Damages

A product that causes injury or harm because of a flaw or defect is a defective product. The product's design might make it defective or a defective part might have been used when the product was made. A product that does not contain adequate instructions or warnings may also be considered defective. A product has to be reasonably safe for its intended use.

Statutes of Limitations and Statutes of Repose

Products liability law deals with personal injuries and property damages caused by defective products. Statutes of limitations and statutes of repose set time limits for filing lawsuits. A lawsuit that is filed after the time period set out in the statute of limitations or the statute of repose is barred and will be dismissed by the court. It is important to check with an attorney to determine the time limit for filing a lawsuit if you have been injured or a defective product has damaged your property.

Drug Manufacturer Voluntarily Withdraws Vioxxr from the Market

In 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Vioxx(r), an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat osteoarthritis symptoms, pain in adults, and menstrual symptoms. The FDA subsequently approved Vioxx(r) for rheumatoid arthritis in adults and children. The drug was widely prescribed for pain relief, accounting for $2.5 billion in yearly sales for Merck & Co., the manufacturer of the drug. It is estimated that more than 20 million U.S. patients had taken Vioxx(r) since it was approved.

Food and Drug Administration Regulation of Medical Devices

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates medical devices. This includes the development, marketing, and monitoring of medical devices. Medical devices are classified into three categories.