April 07, 2011 (Press-News.org) In February, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously decided to allow the family of a woman killed in a car accident to sue Mazda for failing to install shoulder belts for all passengers in its minivans. Until now, this type of lawsuit has been thrown out by lower courts, since federal regulations allow companies to install lap belts only for middle second or third row seats. The new ruling will likely open up a variety of legal options for those injured in cars that do not meet the strictest safety standards.
The Case
Thanh Williamson died in a 2002 accident while riding as a passenger in a Mazda minivan. She was in the aisle seat of the second row, where there was a lap seatbelt, but no accompanying shoulder restraint. Her family claimed that Williamson was thrown around in the crash, and that the lap belt by itself did not hold her securely. Instead, her family alleges that being hurled against the lap belt caused Williamson's grave internal injuries.
The Williamson family sued Mazda. In California, where the case was originally heard, courts rejected the case, citing federal safety standards that allowed the use of lap only seatbelts for rear middle seats. According to Mazda and the lower courts, this lawsuit would invalidate the choice given to manufacturers by federal regulations.
The Supreme Court, however, was not persuaded. The Justices found that the only reason the Department of Transportation allowed for the use of lap-only belts in rear middle seats was because it was a much cheaper option; since the regulations were not specifically meant to guarantee a choice for car manufacturers and bar related personal injury lawsuits, the Williamsons could sue in state court.
What the Decision Means
The Supreme Court only decided to allow the case to go forward; it will still be left to a judge or jury in a lower to court to determine whether Mazda's failure to install a shoulder belt amounted to negligence. But, while the ultimate outcome remains uncertain, the Supreme Court's ruling means greatly improved chances for those injured by design choices in vehicles, whether they meet minimum federal standards or not. If you or a member of your family has been injured in a car accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to learn more about your legal options.
Article provided by Goldenberg & Johnson, PLLC
Visit us at www.goldenberglaw.com
Supreme Court Gives the Go Ahead to State Court Seatbelt Claims
A Supreme Court ruling allows state tort claims to proceed against vehicle manufacturers with lax safety engineering. Learn more about the case, and what it means for those injured in car accidents.
2011-04-07
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Off the hook! Who gets phished and why
2011-04-07
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Communication researchers at four major universities have found that if you receive a lot of email, habitually respond to a good portion of it, maintain a lot of online relationships and conduct a large number of transactions online, you are more susceptible to email phishing expeditions than those who limit their online activity.
The study, "Why Do People Get Phished?" forthcoming in the journal Decision Support Systems and Electronic Commerce, uses an integrated information processing model to test individual differences in vulnerability to phishing. ...
Precedent-setting evidence of the benefits of biodiversity
2011-04-07
Frequent reports of accelerating species losses invariably raise questions about why such losses matter and why we should work to conserve biodiversity.
Biologists have traditionally responded to such questions by citing societal benefits that are often presumed to be offered by biodiversity--benefits like controlling pests and diseases, promoting the productivity of fisheries, and helping to purify air and water, among many others. Nevertheless, many of these presumed benefits are have yet to be supported by rigorous scientific data.
But Bradley J. Cardinale of the ...
Vehicle Black Boxes: Attempts to Improve Motor Vehicle Accident Data
2011-04-07
A recent Los Angeles Times article provided interesting insights about ongoing efforts to make automobile event data recorders (EDRs or "black boxes") mandatory on all vehicles sold in the U.S., and to make better data available to promote public safety. In the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident, such data can help investigators understand whether the crash was caused by a negligent driver, an auto defect or a hazardous highway condition.
Jim Hall, a former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, and Tom Kowalick, a North Carolina college professor, ...
Neuralstem ALS trial in multiple presentations at upcoming American Academy of Neurology meeting
2011-04-07
ROCKVILLE, April 6, Maryland, 2011 – Neuralstem, Inc. (NYSE Amex: CUR) announced that the Phase I safety trial of its human spinal cord stem cells (HSSCs) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) is the subject of three presentations at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, April 9-16th, in Honolulu, HI (http://www.aan.com/go/am11). Chief among these will be a presentation by Eva Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., who is an unpaid consultant to Neuralstem and the Principal Investigator in the ongoing ALS trial, entitled: "A Phase I, Open-Label, ...
Chemical engineers at UCSB design molecular probe to study disease
2011-04-07
(Santa Barbara, Calif.) –– Chemical engineers at UC Santa Barbara expect that their new process to create molecular probes may eventually result in the development of new drugs to treat cancer and other illnesses.
Their work, reported in the journal Chemistry & Biology, published by Cell Press, describes a new strategy to build molecular probes to visualize, measure, and learn about the activities of enzymes, called proteases, on the surface of cancer cells.
Patrick Daugherty, senior author and professor of chemical engineering at UCSB, explained that the probes are ...
New Bill May Ease Arizona's Tough DUI Laws
2011-04-07
A new bill before the Arizona legislature aims to ease tough DUI laws that put in place in 2001, when Arizona passed a rule that established a blood-alcohol concentration of .08 percent as the legal limit within the state.
Since then, the DUI laws have become even tougher. Presently, first-time offenders face at least ten days in jail, fines of $250 or more, and if they blow a .15 percent BAC or higher, the installation of an ignition interlock device in their vehicles for an entire year. The ignition interlock device is connected to the car's starter; a driver must ...
New 2011 Michigan Driving Laws: Drunk Driving, Teen Driver Limits
2011-04-07
As of January, Michigan law enforcement agencies are taking a new approach to bringing down fatal drunk driving statistics in Michigan. The Michigan Legislature approved a new pilot program that will require convicted drunk drivers to install ignition interlock devices on their vehicles. Michigan lawmakers also approved a bill restricting teenage drivers.
Michigan Requires DUI Offenders to Install Ignition Interlock Devices on Vehicles
Michigan lawmakers passed legislation now requiring convicted drunk drivers to install ignition interlock devices on their motor vehicles. ...
Novel association between Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer
2011-04-07
SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah School of Medicine researchers have found compelling evidence that Parkinson's disease is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer and melanoma, and that this increased cancer risk also extends to close and distant relatives of individuals with Parkinson's disease. Although a link between Parkinson's disease and melanoma has been suspected before, this is the first time that an increased risk of prostate cancer has been reported in Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurologic condition that leads ...
Shopping online, privacy, data protection and third-party tracking
2011-04-07
In the wake of yet another e-commerce data breach in which the names and email addresses of millions of online shoppers and credit card users have been accessed illegally, researchers in the US suggest that privacy discussions, and ultimately legislation must urgently focus on the expanding roles of third-parties handling pervasive online customer profiles.
Nancy King of the College of Business, at Oregon State University, in Corvallis, explains in the latest issue of the International Journal of Private Law that marketers have long created market segments in an effort ...
Atlanta Tree Service Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts Advises Proper Mulching in Response to Spring Showers
2011-04-07
Atlanta tree service company Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts views spring as a perfect time to care for trees, especially as more and more homeowners get out to work in their yards. Often, an early spring brings with it significant amounts of rain which can have adverse effects on trees, especially if proper mulching techniques are not followed.
Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts, Atlanta tree removal company, is advising homeowners on how to correctly lay mulch around trees in order to create an environment that will encourage growth and health during the spring rain season. Mulch ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Study unexpectedly finds living in rural, rather than urban environments in first five years of life could be a risk factor for developing type 1 diabetes
Editorial urges deeper focus on heart-lung interactions in pulmonary vascular disease
Five University of Tennessee faculty receive Fulbright Awards
5 advances to protect water sources, availability
OU Scholar awarded Fulbright for Soviet cinema research
Brain might become target of new type 1 diabetes treatments
‘Shore Wars:’ New research aims to resolve coastal conflict between oysters and mangroves, aiding restoration efforts
Why do symptoms linger in some people after an infection? A conversation on post-acute infection syndromes
Study reveals hidden drivers of asthma flare-ups in children
Physicists decode mysterious membrane behavior
New insights about brain receptor may pave way for next-gen mental health drugs
Melanoma ‘sat-nav’ discovery could help curb metastasis
When immune commanders misfire: new insights into rheumatoid arthritis inflammation
SFU researchers develop a new tool that brings blender-like lighting control to any photograph
Pups in tow, Yellowstone-area wolves trek long distances to stay near prey
AI breakthrough unlocks 'new' materials to replace lithium-ion batteries
Making molecules make sense: A regional explanation method reveals structure–property relationships
Partisan hostility, not just policy, drives U.S. protests
The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Ahead-of-Print Tip Sheet: August 1, 2025
Young human blood serum factors show potential to rejuvenate skin through bone marrow
Large language models reshape the future of task planning
Narrower coverage of MS drugs tied to higher relapse risk
Researchers harness AI-powered protein design to enhance T-cell based immunotherapies
Smartphone engagement during school hours among US youths
Online reviews of health care facilities
MS may begin far earlier than previously thought
New AI tool learns to read medical images with far less data
Announcing XPRIZE Healthspan as Tier 5 Sponsor of ARDD 2025
Announcing Immortal Dragons as Tier 4 Sponsor of ARDD 2025
Reporting guideline for chatbot health advice studies
[Press-News.org] Supreme Court Gives the Go Ahead to State Court Seatbelt ClaimsA Supreme Court ruling allows state tort claims to proceed against vehicle manufacturers with lax safety engineering. Learn more about the case, and what it means for those injured in car accidents.