Car, Truck, and SUV Structual Defect Lawyers of Minnesota

Experts - including manufacturers - have recognized the important of occupant "survival space" for decades. The structure around the occupant compartment should form a protective cocoon around the occupants in all types of crashes: frontals, side impacts, rear impacts and rollovers. In other words, the structures must be strong and the interior surfaces should be able to absorb energy from occupant contact rather than injuring the occupant. While some manufacturers may attempt to distance themselves from these principles, several have promotional literature touting their vehicle's robust structures. In fact, some manufacturers brag that their vehicles are equipped with "safety cages" to protect occupants in crashes.

Some stuctural, or safety cage defects include:

• Excessive damage or intrusion to the dash/instrument panel;
• Intrusion of the toe board into the occupant compartment causing lower body injuries;
• Rearward movement of the steering column that may lead to improper airbag deployment and enhanced injuries;
• Inadequate door frame structure that leads to excessive intrusion or even failed door latches and locks; and
• Poor roof structure that leads to injuries in rollover and vehicle override crashes.

These defects can often be fixed by using higher gauges or more steel in structural members, using structural foams in open sections or filling in unnecessary holes in structural sections.

*Nate Bjerke is the Chair of the Minnesota Association for Justice Product Liability Committee

Contact the automobile structural defect attorneys at Champion Law for a free consultation.

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