Can Trial Lawyers Really Help Make Cars Safer?

Recently this question was posed by Automotive News, "the automotive industry's leading newspaper." And the overwhelming evidence, some of which is summarized in the two dozen cases cited below, clearly indicates that "the verdict is yes."

1. Several cases filed in California in the early 1960's together with resulting publicity by Ralph Nader contributed to cessation of production of the Corvair with its unstable rear suspension system.
2. "Paddle Door Latch" litigation in Iowa and Pennsylvania in the mid 1960's contributed significantly to the introduction of recessed door handle designs in current use today.
3. Crashworthiness cases beginning as early as Larson v. General Motors in 1968 have substantially contributed to the development of what the automotive industry refers to as energy-absorbing "crush zones."
4. Litigation beginning as early as 1969 arising out of excessive roof crush in rollover accidents has been a substantial factor in the improvement of roof strength including what General Motors currently refers to as its "rugged safety cages."
5. As a result of the Ford Pinto fire litigation, Ford added a fuel tank shield to prevent puncture by the rear axle bolts and discontinued its drop-in fuel tank design in which the top of the fuel tank also serves as the floor of the trunk.
6. Two adverse verdicts in 1979 forced Ford Motor Company to eliminate an "illusory park" position hazard that had resulted in a number of park-to-reverse design defect injuries.
7. Litigation in 1980 arising from a side impact with a steel pole resulting in severe injuries to a police officer substantially contributed to the incorporation of side impact door beams.
8. Litigation in the early 1980s contributed to the discontinuation of the Firestone 500 tire.
9. Adverse verdicts in Florida and California in Ford Motor Company Pinto fire cases significantly contributed to increasing the collision speed of crash tests to more accurately reflect real world collisions.
10. Litigation in the mid 1980s contributed to the identification and correction of the Audi sudden acceleration problems.
11. Several substantial verdicts resulting from rollovers due to instability problems in the Jeep CJ-5 and CJ-7 led to the development of the Jeep Wrangler with its substantially wider track and lower center of gravity.
12. Litigation arising out of a Minnesota woman's collision with the rear of a tractor trailer rig helped spur new regulations improving the safety of underride guards.
13. The fuel tank location litigation in the 1980s contributed to the relocation of all front wheel drive fuel tanks and many rear whell drive fuel tanks to a more protected position in front of the rear axle.
14. Combined with the 1986 Report of the National Transportation Safety Board, a series of suits against the automotive industry arising from severe abdominal injuries, lumbar spine fractures and paraplegia from rear seat lap belts ultimately resulted in the transition to significantly safer three-point lap belt/shoulder harness seat restraint systems.
15. A series of successful lawsuits in the late '80s contributed to the discontinuation of the windowshade slack inducing device in GM and Ford restraint systems.
16. A large verdict in Ketchum v. Hyundai led to the discontinuance of the 1988-89 Hyundai shoulder harness only restraint system.
17. A substantial verdict in Colorado in Miller v. Solaglas in 1991 led the entire aftermarket glass industry to revise its practices to require glued in aftermarket windshield glass.
18. Litigation arising out of a series of injuries from collapsing seat backs in rear end collisions including adverse verdicts against General Motors in Arizona and Illinois led GM to adopt ore realistic seat back strength standards in the early 1990s.
19. Litigation and resulting publicity involving the instability of the Suzuki Samurai caused it to be pulled from the market.
20. Following extensive litigation involving General Motors side saddle C/K pickup fuel tank design including the large punitive damage verdict in Moseley v General Motors in 1993, essentially all fuel tanks are now located within the protective confines of the frame rail.
21. A substantial punitive damage verdict against General Motors in Alabama in 1996 significantly contributed to design improvements in the General Motors Type III door latch.
22. A series of lawsuits combined with pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration led to redesign and voluntary replacement of door latches in the Chrysler minivan.
23. More recently, litigation in Missouri involving the "electronic gas-brake" joystick device in vans specially equipped for handicapped drivers has resulted in the incorporation of several safety design modifications recommended by the plaintiff's expert.
24. Litigation arising from injuries caused by overly aggressive airbags together with pressure from NHTSA has led to the development of safer and less aggressive airbag systems.