Practice Areas

Case of Note

Occupant containment in accidents is critical to ensure safety. On March 25, 2002, Shirley Sullivan was a belted second row occupant in her 2002 Buick Rendezvous. Her vehicle was struck in the side by another car and as a result it was alleged that her seat back failed rearward and that the rear hatch opened.

Ms. Sullivan was ejected and sustained severe internal injuries.

The case settled for a confidential amount.

Occupant Ejections

Accidents on American roadways are an everyday occurrence, but with every passing year the safety systems in vehicles improve increasing the likelihood that serious injuries can be avoided. Central to the concept of occupant protection in accidents is the idea that vehicle occupants must be safely contained within the vehicle.

Once an occupant is allowed to exit the vehicle, the likelihood of sustaining a catastrophic or fatal injury skyrockets. Whether the occupant is ejected through a door that fails to remain closed, a window that shatters and fails to keep the occupant inside the vehicle, or by a structural failure that compromises the vehicles ability to keep the occupant in, the outcome is often the same.

Today new technologies, better designs and stronger materials are available to minimize the likelihood of occupant ejections in foreseeable crashes. However, often design decisions and material choices are made that fail to incorporate these safer alternatives.

At the Didier Law Firm we understand the engineering principles that drive safer designs, and make it our business to stay abreast of technology that can save lives and prevent serious injuries. If you believe that a poor design led to an occupant being ejected from a vehicle, we stand ready to provide assistance. Please do not hesitate to call us if we can help.