Schmidt, Sethi & Akmajian Blog

Crash Test Dummies -- The Power of Product Liability Laws.

Posted by Dev Sethi | Nov 02, 2016 | 0 Comments

Separated by a line in the sand, a fence in some places, and perhaps a wall in the future, the border between the United States and Mexico is dwarfed by the difference in product safety regulations and requirements.  Moved forward in large part by a meaningful marketplace and judicial incentive to make products as a safe as possible, manufacturers are selling products in America that are significantly safer than their offerings south of the border.

The underlying purpose of product liability laws in the United States is to incentivize safety and discourage penny and profit over people.  Our laws hold companies accountable for the effects of dangerous products.  From the Ford Pinto to kerosene heaters to Firestone tires, we have seen the positive impact that product safety litigation has had on the development of consumer and industrial products.

Simply put -- litigation and the fear of enforced responsibility moves manufactures to act appropriately.  And because the legal system -- as frustratingly slow as it is -- moves faster than governmental regulators, the product liability laws of our country remain the most effective tool available to motivate manufactures and sellers to put out safe products.

And now we have a visual to illustrate the impact of regulations and the power of the products liability system.  This is a video of a crash test performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  It involves the least expensive Nissan available in the United States, a silver US -spec 2016 Nissan Versa, and the least expensive Nissan available in Mexico, a red 2015 Nissan Tsuru.  The results are devastating -- the Tsuru earned a zero star safety rating.

About the Author

Dev Sethi

Dev Sethi litigates and tries a wide-range of complex injury and death cases throughout Arizona. He has Martindale Hubbell's highest rating, AV, and he is listed in "Best Lawyers." Dev is also recognized as an Arizona Super Lawyer in the area of plaintiff's products liability litigation.Dev has been at the forefront of auto product defect litigation. He played a key role in uncovering the Goodyear Load Range E tire scandal and worked to hold Ford Motor Company responsible for the danger posed by their now notorious 15-passenger vans. Dev is currently representing families in product liability suits against the nation's largest corporations including General Motors, Ford, Pentair Pools and Invacare.

Comments

There are no comments for this post. Be the first and Add your Comment below.

Leave a Comment

Our team works together - for you!

Our award-winning lawyers are backed by a talented, caring team of legal professionals, paralegals, bilingual assistants, notaries, and others - all dedicated to you, your case, and the compensation you deserve.

No fees and no costs until we win.

As such we always have your case and your best interest in mind. When you win, we win too by providing the best legal care possible.

Thorough investigation and preparation.

We tirelessly and thoughtfully prepare every case we represent as though it was going to trial. This lets insurance companies know that we are a force to be reckoned with. As such, we settle successfully 98% of the time.