Posted in Wisconsin Workers Compensation Related News
Auto Accident Lawyer
Lawsuits are often successful against the automobile maker or manufacturer if a defective automobile product leads to injury or death in an accident. But when the faulty automobile product is a sunroof, this is not always the case. There are no sweeping regulations that require a sunroof, even one that is entirely closed, to keep a motorist from being ejected through it during a wreck.
Putting government mandates in place could prevent thousands of sunroof ejections annually. Sunroof ejections are a growing concern, as sunroofs are becoming more and more popular and bigger than ever. If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident where poor sunroof performance was a factor, personal injury attorneys can work to get you the compensation you deserve to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Sunroofs Pose Often Unknown Dangers to Motorists
Sunroof ejections can happen no matter whether the product was open or closed. A glass sunroof panel can pop out, and a motorist can be ejected through the opening. Additionally, research has shown that a partial sunroof ejection is possible in a violent crash even if the victim is secured in a seatbelt.
Safety advocates contend that the sunroof problem causes enough deaths per year to constitute a deadly problem that should be addressed by government oversight. This hopefully will happen soon, before more motorists are injured or die in these preventable tragedies.
Sunroof Accident Solutions
Numerous potential safety features could be added to sunroofs to ensure they are safer. One solution is to require auto manufacturers to make sunroofs out of laminated safety glass, like the glass which is used in windshields. Currently, most sunroofs are composed of cheaper tempered glass, which is more likely to give way upon impact. However, many auto manufacturers have quarreled with this on the grounds that using laminated safety glass would increase the risk of potentially catastrophic head and neck injuries from accidents.
A second solution would be to install some sort of device that holds the sunroof securely in place, so it can’t pop out and provide an opening to eject a motorist during a crash. A third solution, which was created in Asia, is to install an airbag for the sunroof, similar to those which are currently installed in cars.
Did Your Sunroof Injure You? Speak With a Personal Injury Attorney
While you may enjoy the convenience of a sunroof in your motor vehicle, if you get in an accident, you could potentially be ejected from the vehicle. Complete ejections could be better eliminated with the use of laminated glass, but many auto manufacturers continue to use less expensive tempered glass.
Sunroofs post a danger in the event of a crash, but they are far from the only risks faced on the highways and byways every day. An auto accident lawyer in Canoga Park, CA can review your sunroof accident or another car accident case to determine if you are entitled to receive compensation for your injuries and damages. Please contact a law office today to schedule a consultation.
Thanks to Barry P. Goldberg for their insight into personal injury claims and the dangers of a sunroof in a car accident.
