The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) is tasked with reducing vehicle accidents and fatalities. They pursue this goal through an array of regulations and rules primarily targeting commercial vehicles, including safety compliance enforcement and regulatory recommendations.
When vehicle manufacturers cut corners, a dedicated whistleblower attorney could help you hold them accountable and qualify for a monetary award. With the support of a Columbia NHTSA whistleblower program lawyer, you could protect the public from deadly accidents and also recover financial compensation for your efforts. Call our law office today to find out more.
Who Qualifies for the NHTSA Whistleblower Program?
The NHTSA program is not available to everyone. Because its goal is to encourage vehicle safety by rewarding insiders with knowledge of fraudulent activity in the auto industry, these awards are generally reserved for individuals with details of violations of the Vehicle Safety Act. This usually involves a person working for car manufacturers, dealerships, or part suppliers.
The information provided is also important. There must be evidence that the individual’s employer has violated federal law. It needs to be actionable, detailed, and supported by substantive proof. In addition, compensation is only available for tips not already submitted by someone else. Only new information can lead to payments through the whistleblower program.
Ineligible NHTSA Candidates
Specific individuals are automatically disqualified from the NHTSA program. These include law enforcement officers who are already obligated to report fraud and individuals under investigation for the acts they are attempting to report. During an initial consultation, an attorney in Columbia could provide more guidance on complying with the NHTSA whistleblower program.
Understanding How to Recover an Award
Qualifying for compensation and submitting a helpful tip will not always be enough to secure an award from the government. As an NHTSA whistleblower program lawyer in Columbia could explain, the information provided must lead to a successful enforcement action by the federal government. If the tip does not pan out, no award is provided.
Different outcomes can result in a successful whistleblower claim. Cases resulting in recalls, investigations, or penalties can all lead to an award if the administrative penalty is more than $1,000,000. No matter how helpful the information might be, more minor penalties will not lead to a reward.
The Secretary of Transportation has discretion over how these awards are given. In many cases, the money is split between every party that provides unique, helpful information.
The amount of the award is based on the total administrative penalty. Whistleblowers generally receive a percentage of whatever is recovered by the NHTSA, which usually results in 10 to 30 percent of the total penalty.
Given the varying results in these cases, it is crucial to have the support of an attorney who truly understands the process. The right legal counsel could make the difference between getting a substantial portion of the assessed penalty and walking away with nothing. Let a Columbia whistleblower lawyer help with the NHTSA program process.
Call a NHTSA Whistleblower Program Attorney in Columbia
When you have information about violations of the Vehicle Safety Act, now is the right time to explore your legal options. You may be entitled to a monetary award if you provide the government with knowledge regarding unsafe business practices in the auto industry.
Reach out to a Columbia NHTSA whistleblower program lawyer today to learn more. Our hardworking legal team could assist with your case.
