Almost all new vehicles introduced to the American car market arrive with the power window feature. Although power windows systems are a convenience motorists have become accustomed to, they have also been the cause of many injuries and even deaths in recent years.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), around 2,000 people each year suffer from power window-related injuries.
Most of the injured victims of defective power windows are children, which also account for the numerous fatalities since power windows became the norm in passenger vehicles. A huge majority of accidents caused by power windows can be prevented if automobile manufacturers offer the proper safety mechanisms.
Following serious car-related injuries, victims should contact an experienced auto defect lawyer to investigate.
Joe Lyon is a highly-rated and experienced auto defect and personal injury attorney, well-versed in the science and economic impact such an injury or death has on the victim’s life and family.
Passenger vehicles with power window systems come equipped with a few different kinds of operating systems, each of which is quite easy for children to operate:
There are safety mechanisms that force windows to open automatically when obstructed. These safety functions can prevent most injuries and deaths related to power windows. Most American cars, however, are not equipped with these mechanisms, even though they are common in Japanese and European vehicles.
In 2017, Ford Motor recalled about 23,000 Ford Escape SUVs in North America to update the power-window software. The company said the power-window system configuration may have exceeded the regulatory requirement for remote-actuation closing force, increasing the risk of injury.
In 2012, over 7 million Toyota vehicles were recalled worldwide for alleged faulty power window switches. The driver’s door-mounted switches had a “sticky” feel to them during operation. A sticking window switch could pose particular dangers to children. Toyota said the sticky window switches were found in the following models of cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks:
About 70 percent of power window injuries involve the hands, including bruising, dislocation and fractures of fingers, wrists, or hands. Lacerations, and crushed hands are also common. In more serious accidents, most often involving young children, heads or bodies are trapped in power windows and result in suffocation. In these situations, it may be prudent to contact a product liability lawyer.
Reports have shown that power windows can exert up to 80 pounds of pressure. According to Kids and Cars, a nonprofit that tracks auto-safety issues involving children, power windows have killed at least 36 children since 1990. Advocates for car safety say it is far too easy to inadvertently operate a car window.
An experienced attorney can assist with a claim against the manufacturer of the defective power window. It may be possible to recover financial compensation for medical bills, lost earnings and other expenses or losses that an incident has caused.
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ABOUT THE LYON FIRM
Joseph Lyon has 17 years of experience representing individuals in complex litigation matters. He has represented individuals in every state against many of the largest companies in the world.
The Firm focuses on single-event civil cases and class actions involving corporate neglect & fraud, toxic exposure, product defects & recalls, medical malpractice, and invasion of privacy.
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The Firm offers contingency fees, advancing all costs of the litigation, and accepting the full financial risk, allowing our clients full access to the legal system while reducing the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare and financial needs.
Serious injuries and accidents often result through no fault of the injured party, yet the injured victim suffers from life altering physical, mental and financial losses. Such economic and human losses can have devastating financial consequences on individuals and families if not properly compensated. Tort law allows those individuals to seek just legal recourse through personal injury lawsuits.
Questions about Defective Power Windows
Consumers can follow recall news or search for current and past recalls on the Web sites of the NHTSA, as well as on other car safety advocate outlets. Look on your car windshield for a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number. Your VIN is also located on your car’s registration card.
If your car has been recalled and you have suffered an injury, contact an auto defect attorney to investigate a potential claim
You may not be aware that your car is defective. It is not always obvious when your seat belt or other safety component fails to function as intended. It can take an expert in auto engineering to determine what contributed to an accident or injury.
You can contact The Lyon Firm, and we will work diligently to review your auto accident case. If an auto defect was in part responsible for an auto injury, a lawsuit can be filed and a large settlement is likely.
If negligent manufacturers and automakers are directly responsible for an auto-related injury, a product liability and personal injury lawsuit may be filed and compensation may be recovered for accident victims. Plaintiffs may seek compensation that may include property damages, past and future medical expenses, lost wages and future earnings, and pain and suffering.
The Lyon Firm takes pride in representing consumers to make America’s roads safer by holding negligent auto manufacturers accountable for auto defects that lead to accidents and injuries. When car makers fail to institute basic safety measures and fail to test auto components before releasing cars tot he public, they may be targeted in product liability lawsuits.
Auto defects have been known to cause accidents in tire failure, tread separation accidents, brake malfunction and sudden acceleration cases.
Auto defects may not cause every accident, but they can play an integral part in causing injury in the event of an accident. This is common in defective seat back collapse, seat belt defects and airbag defects. When these crucial safety features fail to function as they were intended.
Auto manufacturers and car makers can be held liable in auto defect lawsuits. Many automakers outsource some of their production and may not always be aware of some defects. Honda, for example, purchased all their defective airbags from Takata.
Some defective auto part suits name other defendants like negligent auto dealerships or auto repair shops who alter car parts or fail to properly repair automobiles and leave a serious safety risk.
The list of defective automobiles changes each year, and it is more likely that certain components are defective rather than an entire brand name. Nowadays many car makers use the same third-party suppliers, which compounds safety issues when a defective auto part is produced.
In recent years, the most common auto defects have been faulty airbags. Millions of cars were recalled for defective airbags. Other common auto defects are defective throttles, defective car software, and tire failures. Tire failure has been an issue in many car accidents and truck accidents.
A Cincinnati Auto Defect Lawyer can assist in not only reviewing your accident and injury case, but is able to hold large corporations accountable for the negligent actions in releasing unsafe products to the public.
Auto companies must be held liable in order to keep the roads safe in America. So not only can The Lyon Firm seek compensation for injured plaintiffs, but we can file lawsuits to punish car makers for failing to properly test their auto parts before they are sold to the public.
When car makers fail to produce reliable cars and fail to provide basic road safety features, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and product liability attorneys can hold them responsible and help mitigate injuries and future damages.
The majority of accidents and injuries on the road are preventable, but defective auto design and manufacturing defects may leave victims with huge medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and, in many cases, permanent injuries.
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