PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

An owner of a passenger car can sue the car’s manufacturer if they suffer damage in a crash because the car did not meet a safety standard under section 32502. The lawsuit can be filed in federal court in the District of Columbia or in the federal court where the owner lives and must be started within 3 years of the accident. If the owner wins, the court must award the owner court costs and a reasonable lawyer’s fee.

Title 49, §32508

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

When an owner of a passenger motor vehicle sustains damages as a result of a motor vehicle accident because the vehicle did not comply with a standard prescribed under section 32502 of this title, the owner may bring a civil action against the manufacturer to recover the damages. The action may be brought in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or in the United States district court for the judicial district in which the owner resides. The action must be brought not later than 3 years after the date of the accident. The court shall award costs and a reasonable attorney’s fee to the owner when a judgment is entered for the owner.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3250815:1918.Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, § 108, 86 Stat. 955. The words “applicable Federal” are omitted as surplus. The words “when a judgment is entered for the owner” are substituted for “in the case of any such successful action to recover that amount” to eliminate unnecessary words.

§32508 Civil Actions by Owners of Passenger Motor Vehicles

Summary

Title 49, §32508

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Citations & Metadata