Automotive Defects
There are many common automotive design defects which can result in serious injury or death, including:
Premature Brake Lock Up: the failure of brakes to operate correctly under severe braking conditions can cause a vehicle to skid out of control and into oncoming traffic.
Seat Belt Failures: a phenomenon known as inertial unlatching can cause a seat belt to unlatch in a collision thereby permitting the passenger to strike parts of the vehicle interior or be ejected.
Vehicle Roll Overs and Roof Crush: the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards ("FMVSS") require vehicle roof strength sufficient to withstand a roll over. When the roof pillars supporting the roof collapse, the vehicle roof crushes down on the head of the occupant. This frequently fractures vertebrae and results in death or paralysis of the occupants.
Post Collision Fires: when a vehicle is in a collision, it is the manufactures responsibility to design a vehicle such that the risk of fire after a collision is minimized. For example, the fuel pump should stop pumping after a collision which stops the engine. Also, the fuel tank should be positioned such that it will not be pierced in a collision. Surviving a collision only to be burned by a fuel leak is a circumstance that should not occur.
Premature Brake Lock Up: the failure of brakes to operate correctly under severe braking conditions can cause a vehicle to skid out of control and into oncoming traffic.
Seat Belt Failures: a phenomenon known as inertial unlatching can cause a seat belt to unlatch in a collision thereby permitting the passenger to strike parts of the vehicle interior or be ejected.
Vehicle Roll Overs and Roof Crush: the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards ("FMVSS") require vehicle roof strength sufficient to withstand a roll over. When the roof pillars supporting the roof collapse, the vehicle roof crushes down on the head of the occupant. This frequently fractures vertebrae and results in death or paralysis of the occupants.
Post Collision Fires: when a vehicle is in a collision, it is the manufactures responsibility to design a vehicle such that the risk of fire after a collision is minimized. For example, the fuel pump should stop pumping after a collision which stops the engine. Also, the fuel tank should be positioned such that it will not be pierced in a collision. Surviving a collision only to be burned by a fuel leak is a circumstance that should not occur.
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