Every day I hear insurance adjusters and others talk about personal responsibility when trying to shift responsibility for the accident to another. Some major corporations have recently employed this age-old defense of responsibility shifting.
In the BP oil spill the first words out of executives was pointing the finger at another. Instead of accepting responsibility and moving forward as a good corporate citizen, these companies attempt to avoid responsibility in any way possible.
Toyota recently was forced to institute a major recall, but that occurred after much denial and false trails of accountability. Only after denial was no longer credible did Toyota step up and then take some responsibility.
With this major oil spill and with one of the largest auto manufacturers making profits in the United States, responsibility it seems is an objective that has not been achieved. One person I know who is a very good litigator likes to tell juries “actions speak louder than words”.
The actions of corporations who receive huge tax breaks and incentives to do business in the USA- do indeed speak louder than words. When corporations act as though they are immune from responsibility it’s time we took action.
Had an individual played Russian roulette with a recall at the expense of US citizen’s lives they most likely would go to jail? Had a citizen caused the largest environmental catastrophe in modern history through gross neglect and while on probation, they too would go to jail.
I say it is time that consumers and the public take front seat and corporations are held accountable for their lack of personal responsibility.
Greg Baumgartner is a Houston personal injury lawyer and also the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping victims of corporate irresponsibility seek civil justice. If you or loved one have suffered serious injury or wrongful death as a result of corporate negligence call the Houston injury attorneys at the Baumgartner law firm.
