Judge Throws Out Laminated Glass Claim

Automotive News ^ | May 8, 2006 | Lindsay Chappel

[naturalized]

General Motors has won the first round of a consumer lawsuit that could set a precedent for other automakers in similar suits pending in several states.

A U.S. District Court judge in Dallas has dismissed a suit in which the owner of a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe alleged that GM had been negligent in using tempered glass in its side windows rather than laminated glass.

[naturalized]

Some may recall the South Texas jury verdict against Ford last year:

Ford Ordered to Pay $31 Million in Rollover Case (Because Glass Breaks in Rollover)

[P-40]

Too bad it is not loser pays...

[ClearCase_guy]

CRASH!!

[frogjerk]

Your link is recursive.

[naturalized]

Let's try that again: Ford Ordered to Pay $31 Million in Rollover Case (Because Glass Breaks in Rollover)

[kinoxi]

gm's got better lawyers than ford

[Spktyr]

Last I checked, you *want* tempered glass for the side windows, not laminate. There's physiological reasons (hit the side glass with your head, it gives before your skull does), rescue reasons (can get someone out through a shattered side window much faster), and physical reasons (shattering glass disperses energy).

[Yo-Yo]

Absolutely. You want to carry either a multipurpose survival tool that can cut your seatbelt and break the side window, or else carry a spring loaded center punch to break the side window, in case you're ever the passenger in Ted *hic* Kennedy's car and you fall off a bridge or something.

[tfecw]

"There's physiological reasons (hit the side glass with your head, it gives before your skull does), rescue reasons (can get someone out through a shattered side window much faster), and physical reasons (shattering glass disperses energy"

I'm sure someone could/will take ford to the cleaners for one of those reasons.

[newzjunkey]

Since it's basically standard practice to use tempered on the sides, how is that negligent? I suspect Ford may win on appeal and appeal they should!

[UB355]

Jeep uses laminated glass in it's Grand Cherokee. It's sold as a safety feature. Keeps purse snatchers from getting to their target.

[CertainInalienableRights]

Jeep uses laminated glass in it's Grand Cherokee. It's sold as a safety feature

Thats pretty scary.

If you're in an accident and the vehicle is on fire, it only takes seconds to break out a tempered window and get you out, and all you need is something heavy (rock, tire iron, etc.) to break the window and it essentially shatters out of the way.

Laminated glass takes significantly longer to get through, and you typically need something to cut the plastic laminate. If you don't have heavy gloves, its difficult to get it out of the window frame without cutting yourself. This is one of the reasons laminated hasn't been historically used on side window glass.

[alpha-8-25-02]

LAMINATED BREAKS INTO LARGER[MORE DANGEROUS]PIECES!

[Redbob]

Unfortunately for your theories, lots of high-end cars today (e.g., Volvo, BMW 745i, Mercedes)use laminated glass in the side windows for noise reduction.

[Spktyr]

BMW has iDrive and Mercedes has Komand. That doesn't mean that either of those are good ideas.

[VeniVidiVici]

Unfortunately for your theories, lots of high-end cars today (e.g., Volvo, BMW 745i, Mercedes)use laminated glass in the side windows for noise reduction

And the first time an owner of one of these cars dies because they can't get out through a window, the manufacturer will be sued for not using tempered glass in the side windows for safety reasons.