Crashworthiness
In a collision, the occupants of a vehicle are subject to a number of extreme forces that can result in massive injuries. These forces include rapid deceleration and rapid acceleration, depending on the direction of impact in the collision. The concept of crashworthiness deals primarily with the 'second collision' that results from these forces, in which the driver and passengers collide against the interior elements of the vehicle. If the vehicle is properly designed, the vehicle will distribute these injurious forces over as great a period of time and distance as possible. Crashworthiness features are designed to minimize occupant injuries, prevent ejection from the vehicle and reduce the risk of fire. If you or a family member has been injured or wrongfully killed call our Law Firm day or night at 1-800-862-1260.
It is important to remember that the cause of the accident is usually considered irrelevant in crashworthiness cases. The concept of how the vehicle was designed or improperly designed or manufactured can be used to hold a vehicle manufacturer liable for injuries sustained in a car accident because of a defect that was not the cause of the accident, but caused or made worse the injuries suffered in the accident. The concept of crashworthiness is concerned with whether the manufacturer designed the vehicle and its component parts so that it is safe for any reasonably foreseeable use and will properly protect the occupants of the vehicle during a collision. It is foreseeable that the vehicle will be involved in a collision; therefore, a manufacturer has a duty to the design the vehicle so that it is reasonably safe should a high impact or low impact collision occurs. In order for you or your family to recover money damages from the manufacturer in a claim based on a motor vehicle's crashworthiness, you will need to prove that the design feature that failed caused the additional injury in or from the collision. One of the most effective ways to establish this is to show that a safety device or a safer alternative was available. If you or a family member has been injured or wrongfully killed call our Law Firm day or night at 1-800-862-1260.
