The risk of fire has resulted in another recall of cars. This one expands on a previous recall involving Honda Acura TLs for the same issue. The cars involved in this recall are Honda Accords with V6 engines. The car maker indicated that approximately 572,000 of the popular vehicles are included in the recall. The model years included in the recall are 2003-2007.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the issue has to do with power steering hoses that could leak. Should leaking occur, smoke and engine fires could ensue potentially leading to motor vehicle crashes. The car maker plans on replacing the hoses at no charge to the owners when the hoses become available in early 2013. In the meantime, owners who are worried about the issue can request an interim fix from dealers.

Car fires have the potential to cause great physical harm to individuals in addition to damage to property. Burns often lead to a long and painful recovery and in many cases leave permanent scars. When injuries such as these occur, civil lawsuits are commonly filed in an effort to secure financial damages. When it is a defective product that causes the injury, a products liability lawsuit is in order.

Products liability lawsuits can be complex and involve many levels of accountability. Depending on the circumstances, the following may be held responsible for damages:

• The company that manufactured the product or components used in the product
• The wholesaler
• Dealerships that sold the vehicles to consumers

There are currently no reports of injuries having occurred due to the potential hazard. Should any occur, the entities responsible for this could be defendants in a lawsuit.

Source: CNN, "Honda recalls more than 500,000 Accords," James O'Toole, Oct. 1, 2012