Torts Keyed to Epstein
Geier v. American Honda Motor Co
Facts
In 1992, Plaintiff, driving a 1987 Honda, collided with a tree and was seriously injured. The car was equipped with manual shoulder and lap belts, which Plaintiff was wearing at the time of the accident. The car was not equipped with airbags or other passive restraints. Plaintiff sued the Defendant and claimed the car was negligently designed because it was not equipped with an airbag or other passive restraint. A statute, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (Section 208), required auto manufactures to equip some but not all of the 1987 vehicles with passive restraints, such as airbags. Judgment for Defendant. Plaintiff appealed.
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