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Backseat Death Trap
Warning to the Public
 This Newsletter is my way of sharing information helpful to keeping you and your family safe, informed, empowered or entertained. John Bisnar |
Dangers of Riding in the Backseat
What Happens?In a rear-end collision the front seat can bend or break back so violently that it can seriously injury or kill the rear seat passengers.
What cars are affected?
This problem affects almost all Ford passenger vehicles. This problem also affects passenger vehicles manufactured by American Motors, General Motors, most Japanese manufactures including Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, and Mitsubishi, and Korean manufactures including Kia and Hyundai passenger vehicles.
What kinds of seats are dangerous?
Most all vehicles equipped with bucket style front seats are at risk. These types of seats are not strong enough to withstand the impact force of a moderate speed rear-end collision (15-20 mph) when the seat is occupied.
Children at High Risk
The risk of death is heightened with children. Children are more frequently victimized because their small physical stature makes them more vulnerable to the impact from the front seat and/or the front seated occupant.
What You Can Do Now
If your car has front bucket seats take these following steps to help keep your child safe:Child Behind Unoccupied Front Seat
Place the child behind an unoccupied front seat. It is only when the front seat is occupied that you are at risk of it bending or breaking back in such a way as to cause injury.
Child In Middle Position
If your car is equipped with a shoulder and lap belt in the middle position, place your child in the middle back seat position. This middle position reduces the risk of being injured should the front seat bend or break back. Be sure the child is properly buckled.
Child Behind Lightest Person
If both front seats are occupied, place your child behind the seat occupied by the lightest person. The heavier the front seated occupant, the more likely the rear seated passenger will be struck and injured by the front seat and/or the front seated occupant.
The Best Solutions for the Future
Belt Integrated Seat
When buying a new vehicle consider one with a belt integrated seat. That means the seatbelt is built into the seat itself. This requires that the seat be stronger because it must protect an occupant against both front and rear-end collisions. As an example, the Chrysler Sebring manufactured since 1997 and many of the newer European vehicles offer belt-integrated seats.
Manufacturers With stronger Seats
Passenger vehicles manufactured by Volkswagen, Audi, Volvo, BMW, and Mercedes typically have sturdier seats and generally provide a higher degree of safety than their American and Japanese competitors.
Case Just Settled Against Ford Motor Company
Bisnar & Chase has just concluded a case against Ford Motor Company for these unsafe seats. In this case these unsafe seats caused the death of a seven year old child who was riding in the backseat of her mother’s Ford Escort. The mother pulled over to allow an ambulance to go by when they were rear ended at approximately 25 miles per hour by a Honda Accord.On impact the mother’s seat violently bent backwards, resulting in the mother’s head striking the daughter in the chest causing a rupture of the heart. The child survived one day with internal bleeding and then died. The mother and the other front seat occupant had no injuries whatsoever.
Not a New Problem
Ford Motor Company has known about this problem for more than 30 years. In fact, in 1992 Ford formed a taskforce to look into this very problem. The task force concluded in writing that the rear seated passenger can and do suffer serious injuries from time to time from collapsing front seats in rear end collisions. Despite these findings, Ford did nothing to improve its seat design to match the safer designs of its European competitors or to warn the public of these dangers.301 Tests
Do you remember the Ford Pinto? Do you remember the Chevrolet Vega? These were the cars that became infamous for exploding when hit from behind. Ever since then, the Government required Ford and all auto makers to conduct rear impact testing to make sure that the vehicle gas tank does not explode when struck from behind at 30 mph. These tests are conducted under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 301.
Video Clip
Bisnar & Chase acquired the actual video tape of a Ford Escort’s 301 Test. In this video you can see that occupied front seats collapse all the way rearward invading the rear seat occupant space. These tests graphically show Ford Motor Company has known about this defect ever since the 301 Tests become mandatory. This video clip will be available soon on our website for all to see.
Ford Settles On the 1st Day of Trial
Bisnar & Chase submitted 30 thousand exhibits to the court, took 25 depositions and staged and videotaped crash tests to demonstrate what had happened. After having submitted all these exhibits and taken all these depositions, Ford Motor Company agreed to confidential settlement with our client at the conclusion of the 1st day of trial.Videotape Crash Test
To prove this case Bisnar & Chase conducted a full scale reenactment of the crash. Bisnar & Chase hired an independent research laboratory to recreate the accident using the identical vehicles to those involved in the accident.Crash Test Proves Case
This crash test proved 2 things:
- First, the crash test ruled out any other possible explanation for the child's injury.
- Second, Bisnar & Chase proved that a very simple retrofit of inexpensively installing a second belt behind the seat would prevent such injuries in almost every case.
You will soon be able to view this astonishing reenactment for yourself.
The videotape of the crash test will soon be available on the Bisnar & Chase website. We will be sure to let you know as soon as it becomes available.
If you have important information, or an empowering or funny story that you would like to share with my readers please email it directly to me at: jbisnar@bestattorney.com.
--John Bisnar, Bisnar and Chase, LLP.
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