Regardless of the type of auto accident that a person is involved in, it is almost always safer to remain inside the vehicle. One of the main reasons that seatbelts are such a valuable safety device is that they help keep passengers inside the vehicle where they have some structural protection. The risk of being ejected from a vehicle is extremely high in a rollover accident. Door latches frequently fail because of design or manufacturing defects. Depending on the door latch design, a door latch may open simply because of an impact to the outer body of the vehicle. These defective door latches do not fail because of the amount of impact but because their unsafe design allows the latch to be engaged and opened during a car accident.
If you have suffered serious injuries or lost a loved one in an Atlanta or Georgia car accident, the compassionate and dedicated Georgia auto accident attorneys of Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, can assist you in receiving the compensation that you deserve. Our knowledgeable Atlanta personal injury attorneys have been representing people throughout Georgia who have suffered serious injuries or wrongful death for over 39 years. Our experienced Atlanta personal injury attorneys work diligently on behalf of our clients’ best interests as part of our ongoing commitment to our goal of being the best personal injury law firm in Georgia.
More than 8,000 people are ejected from their vehicles through open doors annually according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Many of these occupant ejections are caused by broken door latches and strikers, which may be defective in their design, manufacture or warnings/instructions. A vehicle manufacturer may be liable for a defective door latch based on any of the following:
- Defective design of the door latch
- Poor or unclear directions for proper use of the door latch
- Lack of warnings regarding hazards associated with use of the latch
- Manufacturing flaw in production of the door latch
There are a number of flaws that are common in cases that involve door latches that fail. Many door latches are based on outdated technology that is no longer safe or fails to meet federal safety standards. Door latches are expected to withstand a certain minimum threshold of force during a collision, but some latches do not meet this standard. A door latch also may be defective and fail to engage properly so that it opens easily during an auto collision.
Anytime a door latch opens during an Atlanta or Georgia auto accident; there is a significant risk of a vehicle occupant ejection. Ejections frequently result in catastrophic injuries including traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, massive internal organ damage and other life-threatening and permanently debilitating injuries. This type of injury may mean extraordinary medical expenses and long arduous rehabilitative therapy. If you suffer serious injuries like these or a loved one suffers wrongful death in an Atlanta auto accident, you may be entitled to compensation from the other driver and from the vehicle manufacturer if a defective product, such as a faulty door latch is involved.
