Crashworthiness Lawyers Serving Clients Nationwide

Crashworthiness cases, also referred to as auto defect claims, are cases in which a vehicle, because of its unsafe design or the absence of necessary safety features, fails to adequately protect the occupants from injury in foreseeable crashes. Feldman Shepherd serves clients nationwide who have been involved in a crash.

Every Auto Crash With Serious Injuries or Death Must Be Evaluated as a Potential Crashworthiness Lawsuit

Crashworthiness is a distinct area of legal practice, requiring extensive investigation and discovery. There is a need to retain multiple highly specialized experts who will conduct vehicle testing and/or prepare sophisticated computer simulations.

Vehicle manufacturers have experienced lawyers and unlimited money to defend against these complex claims, and they will often take a case to verdict. Even for seasoned litigators with the mettle to take on the auto industry, crashworthiness claims are generally not a realistic business option, as they require a staggering bankroll―hundreds of thousands of dollars in case costs is common―that many firms simply cannot afford.

Only catastrophic injury claims can support the necessary level of financial investment.

Don’t Leave Life-Changing Compensation on the Table Contact the Feldman Shepherd Crashworthiness Lawyers

Unfortunately, many attorneys do not request an evaluation when the circumstances support doing so. They may be initially focused on working up theories of liability relating to negligent operation of the host or striking vehicle, and simply don’t consider a crashworthiness claim. Failure to request an evaluation of the crash safety of a vehicle potentially deprives victims of just compensation for injuries that require a lifetime of care and result in lost earnings and onerous pain and suffering.

Our crashworthiness team has the knowledge and resources to investigate your client’s accident and determine whether a defective vehicle component or system caused the accident or made the injuries worse than they otherwise would have been. We are dedicated to this distinct area of legal practice and work closely with experts in automotive design, accident reconstruction, biomechanics, federal regulations, and specialized vehicle crash testing to hold all culpable parties accountable for your client’s injuries. We litigate cases nationwide and travel across the U.S. on many occasions to personally inspect vehicles following a collision.

Types of Crashworthiness Claims

Crashworthiness claims generally fall into nine major categories:

Fuel Tank Design
Airbag Deployment
Rollover/Roof Crush/Vehicle Stability
Seat Design/Restraints
Tire Defects
Child Safety Seats
15 Passenger Vans
Structural Integrity
Collision Avoidance Systems

Blockbuster Results in Crashworthiness Cases

Since 1987, the Philadelphia attorneys at Feldman Shepherd have been achieving multimillion-dollar recoveries in crashworthiness cases, including eight-figure results in cases that other law firms turned down.
Notable results include:

$8.5 million settlement for a 23-year-old woman who was catastrophically injured when her vehicle suddenly turned left across a highway median and was struck by an oncoming pickup truck due to negligent installation by a tire service company of new tires on the front, rather than the rear, of her vehicle.
Confidential settlement for spinal cord injuries caused by a lack of a headrest in a Ford F150 pickup truck that was rear-ended by a minivan at about 30 mph.
Confidential settlement against a motor vehicle manufacturer for quadriplegia sustained by a rear seat-belted occupant of a passenger car in a collision, caused by the driver’s speeding, in which the vehicle rolled over multiple times, and the roof was crushed in.
Confidential settlement against an SUV manufacturer on behalf of the family of a driver who was partially ejected and killed in a single-vehicle rollover accident in which the SUV’s side curtain airbags did not deploy.
Confidential settlement on behalf of a mother killed by her own vehicle in a rollaway accident when a transmission defect caused the vehicle to move rearward even though the shift lever appeared to be fully engaged in the “Park” position.

Feldman Shepherd Is Accepting Crashworthiness Referrals

We are accepting referrals of new cases.

When you refer a potential crashworthiness case to our firm, we evaluate all theories of liability that apply. The referring lawyer and his/her client pay nothing, and if Feldman Shepherd determines that there is no viable auto defect case, we will absorb the costs of the investigation and expert consultations. Of course, if we find grounds for a crashworthiness claim, we will pay a referral fee upon the successful conclusion of the case.

Under no circumstances will the referring lawyer share any of the financial risks of the litigation. All fee-sharing arrangements are confirmed in writing, and referral fees are paid promptly, typically on the same day that we receive our share of the fee.

We welcome the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of your seriously injured clients. Call us to learn how we can help with your crashworthiness case at (215)-567-8300 or contact us online.

Frequently Asked Questions Crashworthiness

How is crashworthiness different from a vehicle recall case?

Crashworthiness cases focus on how a vehicle performed in a real-world crash and whether its design failed to protect occupants as required. A recall is not necessary to bring a claim. Many crashworthiness lawsuits uncover dangerous design flaws years before regulators or manufacturers take action.

What role does electronic vehicle data play in crashworthiness litigation?

Most modern vehicles contain Event Data Recorders (EDRs) that capture critical information in the seconds before and during a crash, such as speed, braking, seatbelt use, and airbag deployment. This data often provides objective proof of how safety systems functioned—or failed—during the collision.

Can passengers bring crashworthiness claims even if they weren’t driving?

Yes. Passengers are frequently the strongest crashworthiness plaintiffs because they played no role in causing the crash. If a defective vehicle design contributed to their injuries, they may pursue claims regardless of who was operating the vehicle.