Crashworthiness Claims

A products liability lawyer in Oregon and Washington may be able to help

A defective vehicle component that is a factor in an accident can lead to a products liability claim. In fact, many products liability cases arise from what are known as crashworthiness claims.

"Crashworthiness" is an aspect of vehicle safety that is linked to protecting occupants of a car in the event of an auto accident. Crashworthiness features include seat belts and airbags as well as roll bars, side impact bars and "crumple zones."

When one of these design elements fails during a crash, an injured victim or his or her family may have grounds for a crashworthiness lawsuit, or a product liability claim.

There may also be factors in crash safety that relate to elements within the car that are not themselves considered safety equipment. For example, parts of the interior may come loose and strike a passenger inside the car.

When part of the vehicle's safety equipment fails to function in a crash-such as the seat belts, airbag, or built-in child safety seat-having service records available to determine that these parts were not compromised during maintenance can be valuable to supporting your claim.

The following are scenarios that may lead to a crashworthiness claim:

Roof of vehicle caves in during roll-over accident
Passenger is ejected from vehicle due to poorly anchored seatbelt
Faulty airbags

Contact an attorney in Oregon and Washington today

Crashworthiness claims can lead to complex products liability cases. It's important to consult with an experienced accident lawyer. For a free consultation, contact a products liability attorney at Zbinden & Curtis. Call (503) 287-5000 or reach us by completing the online contact form.

We Take Extra Steps for Our Clients

We have Spanish speaking personnel available. Se Habla Español. A Russian interpreter also is available.

For clients who have transportation issues due to serious injury or are unable to travel, we will gladly come to your home or the hospital.

We will explain the legal process and begin steps needed to represent you in your personal injury claim.

Contact a Washington and Oregon Personal Injury Attorney

Zbinden & Curtis are Washington and Oregon personal injury attorneys who thrive on working hard for accident victims. Insurance companies have teams of attorneys protecting their interests. It’s time to level the playing field. Contact our firm. We can protect your rights.