Car owners may take for granted some of the safety features in their vehicles because they may not seem like safety features at all. In fact, the headrest in a vehicle may seem more of a comfort than a safety device. However, the position of the headrest prevents the driver or passenger's head from snapping back during a collision, causing whiplash or more serious neck injuries. California owners of cars manufactured by Fiat Chrysler may be interested in knowing how one woman is seeking class action status of her lawsuit regarding defective headrests.
Apparently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has logged at least 94 complaints of malfunctioning headrests in Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles. The computerized headrests are supposed to spring forward in a collision, but the malfunctioning headrests pop forward when no accident has occurred. Fifteen people have suffered injuries, including drivers and passengers.
Some of the victims suffered whiplash from the sudden impact of the headrest against the backs of their heads. For one driver, the defect resulted in a dislocated neck, and another driver landed in the emergency room with a head injury. Other drivers complained of nearly causing accidents when they lost control of their vehicles due to the unexpected deployment of their headrests. It seems the defect is in the plastic brackets that give way without warning.
While the auto manufacturer blames the issue on owner tampering, there have already been numerous recalls to address computer malfunctions in the headrests. By seeking class action status of her lawsuit, the plaintiff hopes to hold Fiat Chrysler responsible and to obtain the necessary remedy for the defect before more in California and across the country suffer needless injuries. Many who have suffered similar injuries have contacted an attorney to build a strong case for their rights against large and powerful companies.
