Martzell, Bickford & Centola is currently investigating Volkswagen Emissions Fraud cases on behalf of Louisiana Volkswagen drivers.

On Tuesday, September 22, Volkswagen admitted it had rigged software on 11 million of its diesel cars around the world so that they would pass emissions tests when in fact they were actually spewing up to 40 times the legal limit of nitrogen oxide (smog) into the atmosphere.

Volkswagen's scheme, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, worked like this: The cars' computers automatically activated their pollution-control equipment during inspections. The computers were programmed to detect that an inspection was taking place based on the position of the steering wheel (cars hooked up to emissions meters don't make turns), the speed of the vehicle, how long the engine had been running and barometric pressure. Volkswagens' owners and the inspectors were none the wiser.

Volkswagen has already set aside over $30,000 per affected vehicle to pay for its fraud.

Owners of the affected vehicles immediately suffered the loss of their cars' resale values among other damages. It is unknown if Louisiana will join other states in refusing to renew registrations for Volkswagens after costly repairs to their emissions systems are made.

The problem vehicles have Volkswagen Type EA 189 diesel engines. The following is a list of affected models:

• Jetta (Manufacturing year 2009 – 2015)
• Jetta Sportwagen (MY 2009-2014)
• Beetle (MY 2012 – 2015)
• Beetle Convertible (MY 2012-2015)
• Audi A3 (MY 2010 – 2015)
• Golf (MY 2010 – 2015)
• Golf Sportwagen (MY 2015)
• Passat (MY 2012-2015)

If you own one of these affected vehicles, you are urged to contact Martzell, Bickford & Centola at 1-800-432-4427 for an immediate case evaluation.