Jaime Jackson Law recently settled an automotive products liability case against a vehicle manufacturer for failing to equip the vehicle with a lane keeping system.
We represented the family of a husband and father who was seriously injured as he was driving his motorcycle to work. Another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction drifted out of its lane of travel and crossed over the center line into the motorcycle’s lane. Had the vehicle which struck the motorcyclist been equipped with a lane keeping safety system, the crash would have been prevented.
Lane keeping safety systems
There are many safety technologies available on vehicles and trucks that can prevent crashes from occurring. Among these safety technologies are lane keeping systems. These safety systems are intended to help keep a vehicle in its proper lane of travel and prevent the vehicle from departing its lane of travel. As a result, collisions can be avoided.
A lane keeping safety system consists of various technologies. These include lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and/or lane centering assist safety features. Lane departure warning warns the driver of an impending lane departure. In the event of an unintended lane departure, the system warns the driver with an audible and/or visual alert, and/or haptic feedback through vibrations of the steering wheel. In addition, lane keeping assist provides steering input to help the vehicle maintain its lane of travel and from departing the lane. Finally, lane centering assist provides automatic steering to continually center the vehicle in its lane.
Safety should not be optional
This crash could have been prevented had the vehicle been equipped with a lane keeping safety system. The system would have kept the vehicle in its proper lane of travel. As a result, the vehicle would have been prevented from crossing over the centerline into the opposite lane and striking the motorcycle and seriously injuring its driver.
However, in this case, the manufacturer offered the lane keeping safety features as an option on this vehicle rather than making these safety features standard. Our position is that safety is not an option and these critical safety features should be standard equipment.
The case settled for a confidential amount following mediation.
Screen car crash cases for an automotive products liability case
Any case that involves a vehicle or tractor trailer leaving its lane of travel resulting in a collision and catastrophic injuries or death should be carefully screened for a potential failure to equip with a lane keeping safety system automotive products liability case.
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash, contact Jaime Jackson Law on 717-519-7254 or through our website.
Read more articles Contact us today