Auto fuel systems no longer explode upon impact. These changes have come about thanks to courageous and determined citizens and attorneys who represent consumers. Together, they have forced the negligent and reckless to account for their acts. These days we often hear from corporations that product liability lawsuits are too costly. Product liability insurance costs large businesses about six-tenths of 1 percent of annual gross receipts and costs small businesses about 1 percent.
Consumers get a pretty good deal.
What corporations are really concerned with is being held fully accountable and responsible for the harm they cause. The importance and success of our civil justice system cannot be overlooked, especially now that this very system is under continual assault by corporate America. At a time when Americans increasingly sense an erosion of personal responsibility in society, our civil justice system remains the one institution that holds individuals and organizations responsible for their behavior and forces them to change their conduct for the better. Corporations however, are continually seeking ways to avoid legal accountability. The continuing efforts of asbestos corporations to be relieved of full responsibility for the disease and death they have caused is but one example.