Each year, nearly 11 million road accidents occur involving passenger cars, SUVs, pickups and vans. The vehicle accidents occur due to driver negligence, road conditions, unsafe vehicles or other conditions or circumstances. The human toll from car accidents is over 40,000 lives each year despite efforts to make roads and vehicles safe.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2004 was record year for auto recalls. Topping the list of recalls was General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, which has recalled about 25 million vehicles in 2004. Of the 462 individual recalls identified by the NHTSA for the first nine months of this year, 356 were begun by automakers voluntarily, the other 106 influenced by the NHTSA.

The NHTSA recently released a list of auto safety recalls and urged consumers to have the problems fixed promptly. Under Federal law, safety problems must be remedied without cost to consumers. Only 72 percent of owners of vehicles with safety problems have the recall work performed.

Lawsuits may be filed by injured drivers and passengers and the families of loved ones who have died in crashes and other types of accidents. In cases of an unsafe vehicle, damages may be sought against manufacturers for manufacturing a vehicle with safety defects. Damages may be recovered for injury, wrongful death; pain and suffering, medical costs and lost earnings.