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CASES & INVESTIGATIONS |
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GENERAL INFORMATION |
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Ford Bronco, Explorer
and Expedition Lawsuits -- 2006 Update |
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| The safety of the
Ford SUVs became a nationwide concern in 2000.
More than 200 deaths and 700 injuries in the
United States were blamed on Ford Explorers rolling
over after the tread separated on Firestone tires
with which the Explorers had been equipped. |
| In 2004, the Ford
Explorer SportTrac received the worst rollover
rating of any 2004 SUV model tested by
the government. |
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| In the late 1980s, Consumer
Reports published an article that was
critical of the Bronco II's safety performance
and advised consumer to avoid purchasing
the Bronco II. The Ford Explorer, the successor
to the Bronco II, was introduced to the U.S.
market in 1990. |
| In personal injury
lawsuits filed by Lieff Cabraser, plaintiffs
charge that Ford's internal testing revealed
that the Explorer, like the Bronco II, had
significant handling and stability defects: |
The testing
showed the Explorer was prone to rollovers
when equipped with tires inflated to the
manufacturer's recommended inflation pressure.
An internal Ford Test Report dated November
25, 1988, showed, for example, that the Explorer
lifted two wheels off the ground while cornering
at 55 miles per hour due to a combination
of the vehicle's high center of gravity,
its fully inflated tires, and the suspension
system structure. |
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| Lieff
Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP represents
persons injured in vehicle
accidents. Click
here to submit your
case. |
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| Lieff Cabraser has participated
in over thirty-five $100 million-plus settlements & verdicts
since 1992. To read a summary, click
here. |
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| In so-called "J-turn
testing," the Explorer rolled over in 5
of 12 tests, while the Chevrolet Blazer (the
Explorer's main competitor) and even the problematic
Bronco II experienced no similar rollovers. |
| In a June 15,
1989, internal memo to Ford management, Ford
engineers recommended eight design changes
to address the rollover problem and improve
the safety of the Explorer. Making these
changes would have taken ten months or more,
which would have delayed the planned launch
of the Explorer. Ford management directed
the engineers to make only those minor changes
that would not affect production deadlines.
Ford understood that such minor changes would
not correct the stability and handling problems
identified during the Explorer's development. |
| Injured drivers and
passengers, and the families of loved ones
who have died in rollover crashes, have brought
claims against Ford for negligence by producing
the Bronco with an unreasonable risk of rolling
over. |
| The suits have also
alleged other defects with Ford SUVs, including
that the roofs are weak and should be strengthened
to avoid roof collapse and fatal head and neck
injuries in rollover accidents. |
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There
is no charge or obligation
for our
review of your case. |
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We
have a nationwide
team of experienced auto
defect and car accident
lawyers assigned
to our vehicle injury
cases. |
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We
have retained leading
national car crash
and auto defect experts. |
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We
have on staff a team
of
legal assistants, investigators
and nurses to assist
in the prosecution
of the claims of our
clients. |
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We
provide individual
attentive service.
Learn
more about our firm. |
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| Lieff Cabraser represents
persons who have been injured or killed as a result
of a Ford Bronco accident, whether due to a rollover
accident, crushed roof, door latch problem, shattered
windows, seatbelt failure, or a combination of
these or other factors. Please click
here to contact a Lieff Cabraser attorney. |
| Alternatively, you may
call Lieff Cabraser toll-free at 1-866-313-1973
and ask to speak to partner Kathryn E. Barnett. |
| Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein,
LLP, is a national law firm of over 50 lawyers with offices in San Francisco,
New York and Nashville. Our attorneys are recognized
for the successful prosecution of lawsuits involving deaths, personal injuries
and property damage due to defective products, including in the field of vehicle
safety. |
| In 2007, in the case
of Mraz
v. DaimlerChrysler, Lieff Cabraser
attorneys, with local co-counsel, obtained
the fourth largest verdict in California for
the year. At trial, plaintiffs showed that
a defective
transmission was responsible for making
a Dodge Dakota pickup shift into reverse and
run over Richard Mraz. |
| Currently, we are
prosecuting personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits involving cars, vans,
pickup trucks, SUVs, the Yamaha Rhino and other
vehicles. To learn more about the firm, click
here. |
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| Trademark Notice:
Vehicle Injuries.com is an electronic newsletter from Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein,
LLP, a national personal injury attorney | lawyer law firm. |
| Lieff Cabraser 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. |
| About Lieff Cabraser:
Drivers and passengers injured in auto crashes and pickup truck and SUV rollover
accidents, or families of loved ones who died, may be eligible to file lawsuits
against other drivers at fault or against the manufacturer of their vehicle if
the accident was due to a safety defect. Safety defects can include a high risk
of rolling
over, tire tread
separation, seat
belt failures and other defects. Learn
more... |
| We have offices in San
Francisco, New York and Nashville.
Our car crash accident lawyers and auto accident attorneys have represented
clients in personal injury, auto accident, SUV rollover and vehicle safety defect
lawsuits across America, including persons living in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas,
Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,
Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland,
Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota,
Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia,
Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming. |
| Disclaimer: The
hiring of an auto accident lawyer is an important decision. Please read our attorney
advertising disclaimer. |
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| Copyright © 2008 Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein,
LLP |
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