Automobile Crashworthiness

• Author: Larry Booth/Roger Booth
• Pages: 363-398

12-1 (Rev. 2, 11/13)

Chapter 12

AUTOMOBILE

CRASHWORTHINESS

I. ELEMENTS OF CAUSE OF ACTION AND DEFENSES

A. Theories of Liability

§12:01 Concept of Crashworthiness

§12:02 Design and Manufacturing Defects

§12:03 Which Theories to Plead and Which to Rely on at Trial

§12:04 Standard for Determining Crashworthiness: Custom and Usage v. State of the Art

B. Realities of Crashworthiness Litigation

§12:10 The Intense Battlefield

§12:11 Extreme Expense

§12:12 Information Sources

C. Defenses and Defense Strategies

§12:20 In General

§12:21 Blaming the Driver(s)

§12:22 Designed to Industry Standards

§12:23 Compliance With Federal Standards

II. INTERVIEW AND INVESTIGATION

A. Interviews

§12:30 Client Interview

§12:31 Checklist: Interview All Witnesses

B. Investigation

§12:40 Secure the Vehicle(s) and All Component Parts

§12:41 Monitor and Videotape Any Defense Inspections

§12:42 Do Not Allow Parts to Be Removed From Storage Locations

§12:43 Investigation at the Scene

§12:44 Read the Operator’s Manual

§12:45 Investigate Patents

C. Retention of Experts

§12:50 Laundry List of Experts to Retain

Personal Injury Handbook 12-2

III. PLEADINGS

§12:60 Form: Sample Complaint—Airbag Case

§12:61 Avoid Removal to the Federal Court by Joining Local Defendant

§12:62 Avoid Specifying Limited Defects

IV. WRITTEN DISCOVERY

A. Document Production

§12:69 Enlist the Help of Your Experts

§12:70 Document Production Battles

§12:71 The Phony Trade Secret Excuse

§12:72 The Phony “Visit Our Library” Excuse

§12:73 The Phony Attempt to Limit Discovery to the Particular Model and Year of Car

§12:74 The “Iron Mountain” Diversion

§12:75 Form: Requests for Production; Airbag Case

B. Interrogatories

§12:80 What to Ask For

§12:81 Prior Similar Accidents

§12:82 Prior Accidents: What to Request

§12:83 Identify Key Employees

§12:84 Form: Interrogatories; Air Bag Case

C. Responding to Defendants’ Discovery

§12:85 Object to These Type of Requests

V. DEPOSITIONS OF DEFENDANT’S EMPLOYEES

§12:90 Whom to Depose

§12:91 Checklist: Key Defendant Employees

VI. DOWNLOADING THE “BLACK BOX”

§12:95 Available Data

§12:96 Involve the Other Side in Downloading the Data

§12:97 You’ll Need an Expert and a Protocol

VII. EXPERTS

§12:100 Preparing Plaintiff’s Experts

§12:101 Checklist for Deposing Defense Experts

VIII. SETTLEMENT STRATEGIES

§12:120 Attorney Reputation Is Everything

§12:121 Confidential Settlements and Sales

§12:122 Settlements Are the Result of Thorough Trial Preparation

§12:123 Get Started With First Mediation Session

§12:124 Form: Mediation Brief; Airbag Case

12-3 Automobile Crashworthiness

(Rev. 2, 11/13)

IX. TRIAL PREPARATION AND STRATEGY

§12:130 Follow the Money

§12:131 Use Defendant’s Marketing Against It

§12:132 Exhibits and Displays

§12:133 Checklist for Witness Order

§12:134 Checklist for Direct Examination of Plaintiffs’ Experts

§12:135 Checklist for Cross-Examination of Defense Experts

§12:136 Checklist for Opening Statement and Closing Argument

X. JURY SELECTION

§12:150 Critical Need for Focus Groups

§12:151 Shadow Juries

§12:152 Checklist for Jury Selection