Reclined Seats
Due to the way cars and restraint systems are designed, a passenger involved in a collision while sitting in a reclined seat can suffer severe, sometimes catastrophic injuries. Most people remain unaware of this potential danger, because to date car manufacturers have neglected to provide adequate warning of this safety risk. To eliminate or lessen this danger, manufacturers could do any number of things, such as:
- Change the design to eliminate the defect
- Guard against the ability to recline a seat while the car is moving
- Install a warning light or bell if the seat is reclined while the car is moving, at a cost of approximately $1 per vehicle.
At Langdon & Emison, we have held carmakers accountable in numerous instances where failure to take these steps has resulted in serious injuries, including:
- A confidential settlement in the case of an Olympic athlete who suffered severe internal and brain injuries when the pickup truck he was riding in lost control on an icy patch of road. While the driver walked away from the accident uninjured, the athlete was thrown from the vehicle when the door opened, and his seat belt proved utterly ineffective in the reclined position.
- A $16.94 million jury verdict for a young woman rendered a paraplegic in a low speed collision because her seat back was reclined at the time of the impact.
- A $59 million jury verdict for a passenger in a reclined seat who was involved in a collision which resulted in the amputation of both legs.
Our experienced trial attorneys have the courage and capability to take on the biggest automakers and hold them responsible for the destruction caused by their unwillingness to make even minor changes that could save lives. If you or someone you love has been harmed in a collision while in a reclining seat, contact Langdon & Emison today for a free initial consultation.
