Many of today’s sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and crossovers now include a third row of seats. Once common only in passenger vans, consumer demands have prompted automakers to start packing third row seats into SUVs. Unfortunately, these manufacturers aren’t making the other improvements necessary to accommodate these extra seats, and the results can be deadly.
Seatback collapse is a potentially deadly phenomenon in which a driver or passenger seat in a vehicle snaps backward in an accident. The federal government’s standards for seatback strength are shockingly low, and the issue is becoming more problematic as SUV manufacturers cram third row seats into vehicles, just a few inches from the rear glass.
When a third row seat collapses in a defective automobile, the occupants’ heads can strike the rear windshield, causing a host of brain and spinal injuries. More alarming is that many third row seats are too small for an adult, which means that the occupants of this back row of seats are often children.
Auto manufacturers know about this problem and should build vehicles that protect occupants. But until they step up and do what’s right, you need an experienced car accident lawyer on your side. If you’ve been injured in an accident, please call The Gilbert Law Group® today at (303) 431-1111 to schedule your free consultation with one of our Denver car seatback collapse injury attorneys.
