Sedgwick has a national reputation for defending domestic and foreign automakers and suppliers in product liability and class action litigation.  We have also defended manufacturers of other motor vehicles, including heavy trucks and buses.

 

To effectively represent manufacturers and suppliers of increasingly advanced and complex motor vehicles, attorneys must be strong advocates, experienced in defending the automobile industry,  knowledgeable about the business issues confronting automobile manufacturers, and exercise sound judgment as a trusted advisors to these companies.  Not only do our attorneys possess the necessary  legal experience and knowledge of the automobile industry, including vehicle design and related technology, accident dynamics, occupant kinematics, biomechanics and injury causation issues; they have the capacity, commitment and desire to become well-versed in the specific technical subject matter of the case and our client’s products.  Our attorneys stay abreast of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rulemaking, consumer information and research activities on a regular basis.  Sedgwick has also worked with (and against) most of the leading experts in automotive product liability litigation, and has accumulated a wealth of important and valuable information about these experts.

 

Sedgwick has a national reputation for defending domestic and foreign automakers and suppliers in product liability and class action litigation.  We have also defended manufacturers of other motor vehicles, including heavy trucks and buses.

 

To effectively represent manufacturers and suppliers of increasingly advanced and complex motor vehicles, attorneys must be strong advocates, experienced in defending the automobile industry,  knowledgeable about the business issues confronting automobile manufacturers, and exercise sound judgment as a trusted advisors to these companies.  Not only do our attorneys possess the necessary  legal experience and knowledge of the automobile industry, including vehicle design and related technology, accident dynamics, occupant kinematics, biomechanics and injury causation issues; they have the capacity, commitment and desire to become well-versed in the specific technical subject matter of the case and our client’s products.  Our attorneys stay abreast of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rulemaking, consumer information and research activities on a regular basis.  Sedgwick has also worked with (and against) most of the leading experts in automotive product liability litigation, and has accumulated a wealth of important and valuable information about these experts.

The following lists many of the types of claims defended and comprehensive areas of automotive product liability litigation and consultation in which our attorneys have substantial experience.

 

Rollover Litigation     

• Handling and stability
• Rollover resistance
• On and off-road rollovers
• Roof strength
• Curtain airbags
• Window and sunroof glazing
• Electronic Stability Control
• Padding
• Welding
• Related belt design issues
• Related door latch issues
• Lift gate
• Advertising
• Warnings 

 

Occupant Protection

Seat Belts

• Passive belts – motorized
• Passive belts – door mounted 
• Inertial unlatching
• False latch
• Skip lock
• Late lockup
• Comfort feature
• Submarining
• Broken/torn webbing
• Anchor failure
• Energy management loops
• Inadequate restraint
• Rear seat shoulder belt
• Web grabber
• GEN II, GEN III buckle design
• Pretensioners
• Geometry
• Child restraint
• Pregnant occupant
• Side curtain airbags

 

Airbags

• No airbag
• Failure to deploy
• Low threshold
• Late deployment
• Off-set impacts
• Small-statured occupants
• Aggressive deployment
• Cervical injuries
• Ocular injuries
• Chemical sensitivity
• Respiratory injury
• Out-of-position occupants
• Depowering
  

Seats

• Strength
• Recliner strength
• Broken recliner
• Single side recliner
• Adjustable head rest
• Integrated head rest
• Seat track

Vehicle Operation

Backover Cases

• Backup sensors
• Rearview monitors 

Unintended/Sudden Acceleration

• Pedal misapplication
• Electronic throttle control
• Cruise control
  

Park to Reverse Allegations

• Transmission linkage
• Selector spring pressure
• Lever/shift gate design

Vehicle Fires

Post-Collision Fuel Fed Fires

• Fuel lines and pumps
• Tank placement
• Tank material/durability

Other

• Brake performance
• Brake Transmission
• Shift Interlock (BTSI)
• Tire delamination
• Battery design and warnings
• Radiators, heater cores, other HVAC components

 

Sedgwick has a national reputation for defending domestic and foreign automakers and suppliers in product liability and class action litigation.  We have also defended manufacturers of other motor vehicles, including heavy trucks and buses.

To effectively represent manufacturers and suppliers of increasingly advanced and complex motor vehicles, attorneys must be strong advocates, experienced in defending the automobile industry,  knowledgeable about the business issues confronting automobile manufacturers, and exercise sound judgment as a trusted advisors to these companies.  Not only do our attorneys possess the necessary  legal experience and knowledge of the automobile industry, including vehicle design and related technology, accident dynamics, occupant kinematics, biomechanics and injury causation issues; they have the capacity, commitment and desire to become well-versed in the specific technical subject matter of the case and our client’s products.  Our attorneys stay abreast of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rulemaking, consumer information and research activities on a regular basis.  Sedgwick has also worked with (and against) most of the leading experts in automotive product liability litigation, and has accumulated a wealth of important and valuable information about these experts.

The following lists many of the types of claims defended and comprehensive areas of automotive product liability litigation and consultation in which our attorneys have substantial experience.

Rollover Litigation     

Occupant Protection

Seat Belts

Airbags

• Strength
• Recliner strength
• Broken recliner
• Single side recliner
• Adjustable head rest
• Integrated head rest
• Seat track

Vehicle Operation

Backover Cases

Unintended/Sudden Acceleration

• Pedal misapplication
• Electronic throttle control
• Cruise control
  

Park to Reverse Allegations

• Transmission linkage
• Selector spring pressure
• Lever/shift gate design

Vehicle Fires

Post-Collision Fuel Fed Fires

Other

• Brake performance
• Brake Transmission
• Shift Interlock (BTSI)
• Tire delamination
• Battery design and warnings
• Radiators, heater cores, other HVAC components