News Auto maker denies fault in Yelchin death; dealer hints at "aftermarket changes" to vehicle

[AutoAdmin]

A new news article has been published at TrekToday:

In battling a lawsuit brought by Anton Yelchin‘s parents, Fiat Chrysler, the company who manufactured the car, is blaming Yelchin for his...

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[BillJ]

Fiat Chrysler should settle the lawsuit as quietly as possible, not drag Yelchin through the mud.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Ugh. Sounds like legal trickery. Somebody should tell Q.

 

[Christopher]

That TrekToday headline is most inappropriate. It's stating one party's unproven allegation as if it were a fact. The headline should be something like "Chrysler Alleges Yelchin Caused Own Death."

 

[CorporalCaptain]

That TrekToday headline is most inappropriate. It's stating one party's unproven allegation as if it were a fact. The headline should be something like "Chrysler Alleges Yelchin Caused Own Death."

I agree. I had the same thought.

@T'Boo

 

[Tenacity]

To be honest, I've wondered since his death if the emergency brake was engaged prior to his exiting the vehicle.

 

[jamestyler]

Thats a clickbait level headline :/

 

[ItIsGreen]

At least put some inverted commas round the 'caused own death' bit.

 

[beersnob]

I heard there was recall on the same vehicle model he owned.

 

[T'Bonz]

Yeah, well, didn't even cross my mind. My kid is in the path of the hurricane and I'm lucky I got the news up today; I'm that distracted/out-of-it.

I'll fix the title when I do the news tomorrow. No doubt I'll have pissed off at least a dozen more people with it by then.:/

 

[jamestyler]

No doubt I'll have pissed off at least a dozen more people with it by then.:/

It's the internet - it's not like we need a reason to get pissed off And I make bigger mistakes with less distraction!

I just read it (and clicked!) as it sounded definitive; as if the court or an investigation came to a conclusion.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I have a 2015 GC Overland. I've never been prone to using the parking brake on an automatic since I live and park on flat ground.
The shifter does, in fact, have issues going from one gear to another (D>P usually), and if you're unaware of this problem, you could exit the vehicle while it is still in gear with engine running.

The recall "fixes" this by making it go to Park automatically if you open the door while in gear.
It doesn't really address the actual problem, which is "what is causing it to not shift properly?" My thinking is they used crappy solenoids or maybe the brake switch responsible for making the vehicle aware the brake is pressed is no good.

 

[Khan 2.0]

Just gets worse..

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Fiat Chrysler, the company who manufactured the car, is blaming Yelchin

I blame Fiat Chrysler for not having an ounce of compassion for somebody who has fucking DIED.

 

[Smoked Salmon]

Fiat Chrysler should settle the lawsuit as quietly as possible, not drag Yelchin through the mud.

Ugh. Sounds like legal trickery. Somebody should tell Q.

No trickery and no reason to settle. The burden of proof is on the Yelchin family to establish that, on the balance of probabilities, there was a technical fault in the vehicle that led to the death. If they cannot do so, which seems likely if the vehicle has not been preserved (as the article suggests), then they will lose the case. If, on top of that, there is evidence that the vehicle had been tampered with by Anton prior to the accident, that that actually leans against a finding of liability.

This is a sad event, but I think it needs to be appreciated that it is entirely possible that Anton may have been unintentionally complicit in his own demise.

 

[Smoked Salmon]

I blame Fiat Chrysler for not having an ounce of compassion for somebody who has fucking DIED.

Um, they didn't ask to be sued. Your argument is that the just get served with legal proceedings and pay out millions in response, even if they aren't in the wrong?

 

[BillJ]

This is a sad event, but I think it needs to be appreciated that it is entirely possible that Anton may have been unintentionally complicit in his own demise.

Problem being, you may do more long term damage to the brand than what a settlement would cost.

 

[Smoked Salmon]

Problem being, you may do more long term damage to the brand than what a settlement would cost.

Not necessarily, especially if they aren't found to be liable.

The assumption of damage to the brand is too reliant on the presumption of wrongdoing on their part, but it's worth remembering that the technical fault was news before Anton's death. So the "bad" publicity was already out there prior to the death, and the law suit isn't going to change the negative inferences of the brand arising out of the death. If anything, being found not liable would be in their interest.

I think the problem in this case is that people assume that because he had one of the models that were of the faulty line, it must mean by default that the vehicle started rolling due to the fault. But that isn't necessarily the case, and even if it is the case it must be proven.

 

[Christopher]

I think the problem in this case is that people assume that because he had one of the models that were of the faulty line, it must mean by default that the vehicle started rolling due to the fault. But that isn't necessarily the case, and even if it is the case it must be proven.

Exactly. It's still an unanswered question, so nobody should jump to any conclusion either way. That's why the headline is objectionable, because it presents only one side of an unresolved question as though it were a fact. At this point, we don't know the answer. And personal opinions will not affect the facts. What we need to do is just wait and see what the evidence shows.

 

[Smoked Salmon]

Exactly. It's still an unanswered question, so nobody should jump to any conclusion either way. That's why the headline is objectionable, because it presents only one side of an unresolved question as though it were a fact. At this point, we don't know the answer. And personal opinions will not affect the facts. What we need to do is just wait and see what the evidence shows.

I agree.