Door Latch Failures

Door Lock Opening during Rollovers and Wrecks
Defective door latches or door lock opening during a crash or rollover has been alleged to be a serious safety problem amongst automotive engineers and consumer groups. No door latch recall has been issued by Ford concerning the following vehicles.  The allegation focuses on the vehicles having a defective door latch, which may open in the event of an accident can cause and contribute to ejections during wrecks and rollover accidents with the potential for catastrophic results.

Door Lock Defects Explained

All vehicle door latch systems, including both the inside and outside door handles, are required by the (FMVSS 206) to withstand certain pressures or forces to keep vehicle’s door look from opening during a rollover or typical accident. FMVSS 206 relates to the door latch and FMVSS 206 requires that the door handle and latch mechanism be able to withstand 30 g’s of inertial loading in an accident. If the door lock or door latch failure to hold and opens at under 30 g’s, then the door will open allowing the occupants to be ejected or face untold injuries from being partially ejected or hit by other objects and other vehicles. Many vehicles may contain this manufacturing defect in the outside handle which may make the handle non-compliant with FMVSS 206 and dangerous to the consumer. The defective door latch problem centers on the strength of the torsion spring that holds the door handle shut. This spring controls the amount of force required to operate the handle and open the door of the vehicle. The door latch problem is that the springs are too weak and allow openings at much less force or fewer pounds of pressure to operate/ lift the handle than may be required under the Federal law. A weaker door latch spring can cause door that need to remain shut, to pop open during a wreck or rollover, at the time that they are the most needed to protect the safety of the passengers.

Rollover & Door Lock Failures – Door Latch Openings

If you or a member of your family has been involved in a SUV rollover accident, van rollover, truck rollover or wreck in which the door latch or door lock failed to stay locked and the occupants were ejected, seriously injured or killed then call us now. Mr. Willis is a Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney with over 20 years of product liability and Rollover litigation experience. Call the Willis Law Firm at 1-800-883-9858 for a Free & Confidential Consultation or Click Here

PLEASE NOTE: The statements and information provided on this web site are for the informational purposes only. This law firm is not affiliated in any way with any trademark owner. The use of any trademarks on this site is for product identification and information purposes only .This webpage is provided to you to assist in SUV Rollover accidents, passenger van rollovers, 15 passenger van rollover accidents, recalls, truck accidents & rollovers, tire tread defects, tire separations, roof crush and roof pillar collapse, seat belt failures, fuel fed fires and other related rollover accident issues, including rollover injuries and deaths. This site is not intended to provide legal advice to the reader and NO attorney-client relationship shall be deemed to arise from the receipt this page and/or its associated pages or any oral or e-mail communication to or from with the Willis Law Firm. There will be NO lawsuits filed, claims made, letters or phone calls made for a prospective client, until that person is represented by the firm. An attorney client relationship only arises after the attorney and client have signed a written attorney client contract.

Mr. Willis is licensed attorney in New York and Texas.  He is a Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Lawyer, certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Read more about Board Certification. Principle office is Houston, Texas.

Mr. Willis has represented clients in personal injury, auto accident, SUV  rollover, van & truck rollovers and other product liability and negligence cases from across the United States, including clients from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin & West Virginia.

Further, any statement or reference to past personal injury, products liability or SUV rollover lawsuits, settlements or verdicts should NOT be relied upon in one’s own case or in your decision on which law firm to hire. All clients’ cases, facts, injuries, damages, venues and lawsuits are different and there is NO way to predict the outcome of a particular case, verdict of a jury or judge or the strength of a case before a judge, jury or the appellate court system. The client is responsible for all of their own medical expenses. All cases are handled on a contingent fee basis. NO attorney’s fees or case costs charged to client, unless a recovery is made for the client. Often in very serious and catastrophic injury and death cases Mr. Willis may associate with another products liability attorney as co-counsel and in other matters, the case may be referred. In cases where a legal matter is referred, Mr. Willis will continue to maintain joint responsibility with the handling attorney or lead counsel and actively monitor the progress and development of the case.  Due to his 33+ years of experience in personal injury and products liability cases, Mr. Willis will often continue to assist in working with the hired experts and engineers and in research of the defective product or other related legal matters in the case.