Reading more of the article.
A 2000 Ford Mustang.
Verses what a new mustange looks like now.
While I agree the new Mustang is a thousand percent better than the old one, I do not like the sloper look.
Posted on 03/07/2012 8:56:41 AM PST by smokingfrog
Allegations of faulty car design are at the center of a lawsuit by an injured Fresno teen against Ford Motor Co.
Shaela Warkentin, 16, suffered serious head and facial injuries a year ago when the 2000 Ford Mustang she was riding in was rear-ended by a pickup. Shaela's head was pinned against the rear edge of the car's roof, and rescuers had to cut the roof from the car to free her. The injuries cost the girl her eyesight and left her hospitalized for weeks.
Fresno attorney Warren Paboojian filed the suit Friday on behalf of Shaela and her sister, Karissa Warkentin, now 21, who was driving the Mustang when it was hit. Shaela was riding in the back seat behind her sister.
Ford products have been the target of defect lawsuits before, but Shaela's may be the first aimed at the Mustang's rear window.
In addition to Ford, the suit names the driver of the pickup, Douglas Lindsey, 68, for negligence in the March 8 crash at a stoplight at Barstow and Maroa avenues in northwest Fresno. Lindsey was arrested in the wake of the crash for driving under the influence of the painkiller Vicodin.
The suit alleges that the design of the 2000 Ford Mustang put back-seat passengers at risk in rear-end collisions because of inadequate crush protection, too little space between the rear window and the head of a back-seat passenger, a lack of advanced ejection-resistant glass in the rear window and the lack of headrests for rear-seat passengers.
(Excerpt) Read more at fresnobee.com ...
Fresno attorney Warren Paboojian filed the suit Friday on behalf of Shaela and her sister, Karissa Warkentin, now 21, who was driving the Mustang when it was hit. Shaela was riding in the back seat behind her sister.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is what I hate about modern cars. I call them slopers.
They all have terrible headroom due to the fact the roofline slopes sharply downward. And add in the fact they have high beltlines, huge D-pillars, narrow sharply raked back windows, and so on...
You have ugly dangerous cars that are hard to see out of. And apprarently dangerous in a crash.
It would be interesting to know how fast the guy that hit her from behind was going. You can’t design for every contingency.
The driver of the pick up caused the injures NOT Ford and of course he does not have enough insurance to make it worthwhile for the lawyers.
She would not want me on the jury. Now, the driver of the car that hit her would, of course, be responsible.
The only way she would win if I were on the jury is if it could be proved that this was a known design defect and there is a corporate email trail to prove it, but they did nothing about it.
But the bottom line is that some cars are more dangerous than others in a crash, and for different reasons. That’s why accidents should be avoided. And when someone hits you, they are the one you sue.
BINGO!!! This has nothing to do with the design or safety of the car and EVERYTHING to do with lining the ambulance chasing scumbag lawyer's pockets.
He is hoping that Ford will 'settle' without admitting fault but still paying an exorbitant EXTORTION amount rather than be seen as the big mean corporation fighting the poor little injured blind girl...........
She doesn’t need a good lawyer, she just needs a good jury. “She’s blind! Somebody has to help her out, and Ford has the money!” And everybody else picks up the tab.
For reference.
The back seat on a Mustang is very tight. I've owned a 1999 Fox Platform Mustang (Cobra) like the one in the story and I now own a 2011. The difference in design and comfort is amazing. The new Boss 302 Mustang even has a rear seat delete option because the people who buy one don't use it as a Minivan.
The rear seat in both models is small. If people want a roomy back seat, buy a Buick.
I do. The fastback is classic American muscle contour.
Having said all that, I have to be honest, I am looking at Mustang convertibles. I told my wife I am going to try one on, and if it fits, great, and if it doesn't, then no deal. If it ain't comfortable and fun to drive, I don't want it.
Just Wow.
That truck looks like it was OK to drive back home. A new grill - some headlights - it’s good to go.
That Mustang doesn’t look too bad either. (When you factor in they cut the roof off AFTER the wreck).
But then, I bet the damage is far worse on the other side of that picture.
Hm, I know which one I would feel more comfortable letting my kids drive one day.
Get one...it's downright medicinal...much better than drugs. It's also the ultimate middle-finger to those Prius and Fiat drivers.
We bought a new 2006 GT convertible...and ain't looked back. (While I would love to trade it in on a new Shelby GT convertible, $60K is a bit steep.)
The pickup doesn’t look too bad at all, and obviously did not hit square-on.
Had she been sitting in the front or the other side of the back seat, she might be okay.
Test dive a Mustang Convertible.
Try backing it up in a crowded parking lot. With the top up and with it down.
Either way - the view is obstructed and you have to trust your mirrors. But that is true with most all new cars.
Hope you find that you like it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.