Defective Auto Glass Product Liability
There are many ways in which one can be injured by the glass in their car. Safety precautions and tests are generally run by the car manufacturer but sometimes defects can still cause serious injuries in the wake of a car accident.
If you have been injured as a result of defective glass in your vehicle contract Grossman Law Offices, we have more than 20 years of experience in personal injury law and can help you obtain the recovery that you deserve.
Glass Becoming Projectiles
The most common injuries that occur in relation to glass in vehicles is when you are involved in a car accident and glass becomes a projectile, cutting anything in its path. This is especially true with rear and side windows as well as sunroofs. What makes these windows more dangers is that they are made of tempered glass, unlike the laminated glass windshields are typically made of. When tempered glass breaks it is more likely to shatter, causing more serious injuries. When laminated glass breaks it typically stays in place, not resulting in the projection of glass fragments. Typically, laminated glass is mandated to be installed in all front vehicle windshields in Texas and the rest of the country.
While the laminated glass has the benefit of not projecting glass when it breaks, it also benefits drivers and passengers by preventing their potential projection through a windshield as a result of an accident. Laminated glass has a layer of plastic that may prevent injuries caused by shattered glass by keeping shards and shattered pieces in place even in the happening of an accident. While hitting a laminated windshield will not prevent you from suffering any injuries, it will limit your injuries and prevent you from ejecting through the windshield of your vehicle. Even with these safety procedures in place windows and windshields can still be defective and not provide the protection that consumers deserve.
Rollover Accidents in Texas
Vehicle roll overs often cause the most glass related injuries. Windows placed in vehicles are tested to withstand certain amounts of pressure but often break in situations such as a rollover. Certain vehicles are more susceptible to rollovers than others. Trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps are among the most notorious vehicles for rolling over. These vehicles suffer from higher rates of rollover than other vehicles as a result of their higher level of gravity and a more narrow frame (as is the case for Jeep, especially the Jeep Wrangler).
Just the act of a vehicle rollover can be dangerous; the shattering of glass throughout your vehicle can add a whole new element of danger to the equation. The shattering of tempered glass windows may weaken the roof of the vehicle, which may raise the likelihood of cave ins during a rollover. However, if the car was equipped with laminated glass, the glass itself would break, but remain intact, still being able to support the weight of the roof in the event of a cave in. Furthermore, during a roll over with shattered windows all around, the increased likelihood of being ejected from the vehicle also comes into play.
Cost Effectiveness
The reality of car manufactures and most all businesses in general is to make their product as cheaply as possible. While installing laminated glass in all windows would produce a safer vehicle for their consumers, most car manufactures don't view as cost effective. The estimated cost of applying laminated glass windows all throughout a vehicle is estimated at $100.00 per vehicle.
If you have been injured in a car accident because the glass windows shattered you may have claim. Do not hesitate, assert your rights, the attorneys at Grossman Law Offices have helped thousands of clients recover the damages that they deserve, we can help you to. Contact (855) 326-0000 to schedule your free consultation.