Seat Failure Vehicles
Toyota Motor Corporation Toyota Corolla
A teenager was paralyzed when her seat belt failed to restrain her as her seat collapsed. She was thrown into the backseat of the Toyota Corolla and suffered thoracic spinal injury with complete paralysis of the lower extremities. The case was resolved by a confidential settlement.
Daimler Chrysler Corporation Dodge Caravan
A 37 year old mother of two was rendered a quadriplegic when another vehicle struck the rear of her 2000 Dodge Caravan and the drivers seat collapsed. The driver was wearing her available seat belt but she still impacted the rear seat violently enough to permanently injure her cervical spine. The parties agreed to a confidential settlement.
$105 Million Verdict Against Daimler Chrysler in Minivan Baby Death
December 1, 2004
- ConsumerAffairs.com
A Tennessee jury found a baby's 2001 death was caused by a faulty minivan seat and hit Daimler Chrysler Corp. with a $105 million verdict.
The automaker has sold more than seven million minivans.
The backward collapse of front seat backs in the minivans during rear-end collisions would propel the drivers and front-seat passengers backward in a rear-end collision, often causing their heads to collide with children riding in the middle seat. That is what happened to an 8 month-old, when a driver slammed into the back of the baby's grandparents' minivan at 70 mph in 2001 in Nashville. The baby's skull was fractured and he died the next day.
Hyundai, Land Rover Recalls
August 30, 2005
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports the Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. Will recall 36,000 Sonata cars from the 2006 model year because the front seat belts may interfere with the manual seat back recliner knob.
The seat belt may cause unexpected release of the front seat back recliner, potentially resulting in an injury to passengers, NHTSA reported.
Daimler Chrysler
2001 - a woman driving a Daimler Chrysler minivan was ejected from her seat when her seat collapsed during a crash. When the seat collapsed, she fatally struck her 8-month year old child, who was seated behind her.
2000 - The driver of a Ford Escort was rear-ended by another vehicle. The driver's seat collapsed rearward. He was thrown out of his seat into the rear of the car and sustained fatal injuries.
Daimler Chrysler Dodge Ram Pickup
In 1999, a woman was rendered quadriplegic after an accident in which the driver's seat recliner bracket of a Daimler Chrysler Dodge Ram Pickup broke. This caused the seat to collapse backwards and eject the woman out of her seat, striking her head on the roof of the cab. This structural weakness exists in all 1995, 1996, and 1997 Dodge Ram extended cab models.
1997- The driver of a Jeep Wrangler hit a patch of water and hydroplaned, spinning out of control. The jeep hit a ditch and rolled over. During the rollover, the seat back collapsed causing the driver to ramp out of her seat and eject from the rear of the vehicle. The driver sustained serious brain injury and was rendered a parapalegic.
In the resulting lawsuit, it was proven that the design of the seat back in the Jeep Warngler was insufficient to provide a reasonable degree of protection when the vehicle is impacted from behind.
1997 Dodge Caravan
OCALA, FL - In early December of 2000, a couple was traveling in a 1997 Dodge. Both were properly wearing their lap/shoulder belts and the vehicle was traveling within the lawful/posted speed limit. Suddenly and without warning the Dodge Caravan was struck in the rear by a another vehicle.
As a result of the collision, the Dodge Caravan spun out of control, veered off the road and rolled over. During the initial impact, the passenger's seatback collapsed and the Caravan's passenger side sliding door flew open. When the seatback collapsed, the passenger slid rearwards under her seatbelt and was ejected through the open sliding side door which had come open. She suffered severe - life threatening injuries from the accident. Today, her injuries continue to affect her health and wellbeing.
A settlement was reached with Chrysler and the 2nd vehicle's driver for an undisclosed sum.
Ford Explorer
A woman was driving a Ford Explorer when she was struck by a Jeep Cherokee after the Cherokee’s driver had fallen asleep. During the collision, the Explorer driver's seat back failed and she was thrown in the back seat where she struck her son. The young man suffered severe injuries, including brain injury. This case resulted in a confidential settlement.
Rear Impact
Plaintiff was involved in a very low impact rear collision (where both cars were able to drive off the scene) that involved a seat back failure. The client developed a subdural hematoma and died. This case resulted in a confidential settlement.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a seat back failure accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney immediately. Those who have questions or who may have been injured in a seat back failure-related collision should contact the attorneys at Miller, Curtis and Weisbrod for further information.