The Dieselgate scandal has cost Volkswagen billions as they continue to pay out affected drivers and settle other fines. It’s been eight years since the diesel emissions scam, but the carmaker still has a lot of legal issues and related matters to deal with.
One of the major developments in the VW emissions scandal is its agreement with the thousands of affected England and Wales drivers in May last year. The Volkswagen Group agreed to pay the car owners a total of £193 million as compensation for the problems and inconveniences linked to driving defeat device-equipped vehicles.
Each of the claimants received at least £2,120 plus additional fees and costs. Estimates place the total payout at £3,000 per affected driver.
Despite sealing the agreement, Volkswagen did not admit any causation, liability, or loss. Instead, they addressed their customers and apologized. They also promise to do everything that they can to regain the trust of the public.
The agreement was an offshoot of a group litigation order filed by around 91,000 affected drivers. They brought the case to the High Courts and accused the German carmaker of using defeat devices to manipulate diesel vehicle emissions. This was just one of the many cases filed against VW about the diesel emissions scandal.
Volkswagen was the first carmaker to get involved in the scandal. US authorities accused them of installing two-mode software in Audi and Volkswagen diesel vehicles sold to consumers in the American market. The illegal software is programmed to detect when a vehicle is in the lab and about to be tested so it can reduce emissions to legal limits.
During real-life driving, however, the vehicle releases unlawful and dangerous amounts of NOx or nitrogen oxides. NOx is a pollutant, a group of gases that can destroy lives and harm the environment.
Authorities were quick to point out that Volkswagen lied to their customers. Their priority was to gain profit, not to ensure the safety and satisfaction of their clients.
If Volkswagen did not agree to settle with England and Wales’ affected drivers, a trial would have been held last January. Had they opted to battle it out in the courts, they would have spent for additional costs and car owners would have had to wait for weeks (or months) for their compensation. Emission claim cases are typically lengthy, sometimes going on for a minimum of six months. So going for the settlement was the wisest step to take for the carmaker.
Nissan emissions claim
While Volkswagen has already settled with their UK customers, authorities have not stopped reaching out to affected drivers and encouraging them to start legal action against their carmakers. VW is not the only manufacturer implicated in the scandal, many others are, including BMW, British brand Vauxhall, Mercedes-Benz, and Nissan.
The Nissan emissions scandal may not be as popular as the VW Dieselgate (as it’s fairly new), but legal action has already started in the UK. It is the hope of many that the Japanese carmaker would soon follow in the footsteps of the Volkswagen Group and agree to settle with affected drivers.
Nissan was thrust into the diesel emissions spotlight after defeat devices were allegedly discovered in their diesel vehicles last June 2020. It initially involved the Nissan Qashqai, but the list now includes the Juke, Note, and X-Trail. All the affected vehicles were made between the years 2009 and 2018.
Why is a diesel claim necessary?
A diesel claim is legal action that allows affected car owners to bring their carmakers to court. A successful claim will compensate them for the deceit, as well as the mediocre performance of the high-priced vehicles they bought.
Carmakers also exposed them to NOx emissions, which can cause multiple health impacts:
- Depression and anxiety
- Dementia caused by weakened cognitive health
- Asthma
- Pulmonary oedema
- COPD
- Cancer
- Laryngospasm
- Asphyxiation
- Cardiovascular ailments
- Premature death
Nitrogen oxide contributes to air pollution as it reacts with other elements/gases to form smog and acid rain. It’s also responsible for producing pollutants, such as ground-level ozone, which can weaken and damage plants, crops, and other vegetation.
By allowing defeat device-equipped vehicles to drive on UK’s roads, carmakers exposed the public to elevated levels of air pollution. This increases the probability of a repeat of what happened to Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, the first person to die due to air pollution in the UK. Ella died in 2013 after constant and long exposures to high levels of toxic fumes in their area of residence in south London.
Can I file my diesel claim?
If your vehicle has been underperforming and if you’ve felt the effects of NOx emissions, you should check out Emissions.co.uk to find out if you are eligible to file a claim and receive compensation. It’s where you’ll find all the crucial details you need to move forward with your diesel claim.
Don’t forget to work with an emissions expert who can help you weigh matters before making a legal decision. Your first step would be to decide if group legal action is the right thing for you.