Call us 24/7 877-670-2421

U.S. Supreme Court May Allow More Lawsuits Against Car Makers: the Mazda Seatbeat Case

Earlier this month, on November 3, 2010, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the wrongful death case of Williamson v. Mazda Motor of America, Inc. (hear the oral argument online here). This case is very important to us all because it may well mean that citizens can sue car manufacturers for personal injury and wrongful death even if the cars involved in the accidents technically met federal safety law requirements.

The Williamson lawsuit originates in a 2002 car crash where Thanh Williamson, 32, died while wearing a lap seat belt in a Mazda 1993 MPV minivan. Mazda’s defense is that Williamson was seating in the center position of the rear passenger seat and at the time, the car maker was only required to provide a lap band for this spot per National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulation.

And, that’s true. The 2000 federal regulations did not require that spot to have a shoulder strap seat belt. However, if one had been provided, Williamson probably would be alive today. And, if the crash had occurred in a minivan manufactured in 2007 or later, that seat would have had more than a lap belt: NHTSA changed its regulations to require this safety feature five years after Ms. Williamson died.

Will the High Court find that federal law preempts state law and rule for Mazda? Will the Supreme Court Justices rule instead that American citizens shouldn’t have to face federal law shields by car manufacturers in wrongful death personal injury lawsuits?

Time will tell. Expect a decision sometime in Spring 2011.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed due to the wrongful acts of another, then you may have a legal claim for damages as well as the right to justice against the wrongdoer and you are welcomed to contact the Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland personal injury lawyers at Allen Law Group to schedule a free initial legal consultation.

    Our
    Locations

    Nearest Office View All Locations
    Allen Law Building
    501 Allen Court, Chesterton, IN
    (219) 465-6292
    Capital Center
    201 N. Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN
    (317) 842-6926
    Chicago Loop Office
    77 W. Wacker Dr. Suite 4500
    (312) 236-6292
    Justice Center
    3700 E. Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, IN
    (219) 736-6292
    Regency Office Suites
    10062 W. 190th Place, Mokena, IL
    (815) 725-6292
    Orland Park Executive Tower
    15255 S. 94th Avenue, Orland Park, IL
    (708) 460-6292

    New Coffee Creek Location

    501 Allen Court, Chesterton IN 46304

    Render of new Ken Allen Law Group location in Coffee Creek
    Render of new Ken Allen Law Group location in Coffee Creek