According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 8,000
people are ejected through the doors of motor vehicles every year because
of broken car door latches. This can cause numerous injuries, including
abrasions, head injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic
brain injuries–especially when the vehicle is moving at a fast speed
and/or there happen to be other cars on the road with it. Death may even
result. (In 1997, a federal jury held Chrysler Corporation for $262.5
million in the door latch death of a 6-year-old boy who was thrown from
a minivan when the latch on the rear liftgate of the vehicle failed during
a collision. The child sustained a fatal skull fracture.)
At The Gilbert Law Group®, our auto products liability law firm represents
victims and their families with defective vehicle parts claims and lawsuits
against manufacturers, distributors, and sellers. If you believe that
a defective or failed door latch was the cause of your injuries or a loved
one’s death, one of our door latch defect attorneys would be happy
to speak with you during your free case evaluation.
Door Latches
Located on driver and passenger doors and on the hood, trunk, and rear
lift gate, door latches can be controlled automatically, remotely, or
manually. When a vehicle is moving, it is important for its doors to stay
closed, even locked, to keep occupants in–especially when there
are children in the car (most vehicles have door latches that are designed
for child safety.) The door latch system is what allows occupants and
the driver to lock and unlock the doors.
Unfortunately, despite federal regulations that require that door latches
meet a “crashworthiness” test and be able to sustain a certain
amount of inertial force during a collision (at least 30 Gs of force),
there are door latches that still continue to fail, jeopardizing the lives
occupants.
Examples of door latch system failures:
• Failure to meet NHTSA’s safety standards
• Improper door closing: The door latch cannot close properly if
the card door isn’t properly closed. Newer autos now give off a
warning if one of the doors appears closed but really isn’t once
the vehicle has started running.
• Jammed door latches: Just as it is important for occupants to be
securely enclosed within a vehicle, it is also important for them to be
able to get out of the car–especially in an emergency situation.
A jammed door latch may prevent a person from getting out.
Jury Finds Chrysler Liable for $262.5 Million, The New York Times, October 9, 1997
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Door Locks and Door Retention
Components and Side Impact Protection, NHTSA