Top

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Set Minimum Standards for Car Safety

Car accidents take far too many lives each year. Defective or unreasonably dangerous car parts can cause additional injuries. With these facts in mind, the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 gave the Department of Transportation (DOT) the responsibility to create comprehensive Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Known as FMVSS for short, the standards provide a bare minimum level of safety that cars must meet.

The FMVSS has been revised many times since its creation in the 1960s. Today, standards cover nearly every part of a vehicle. Standards exist to cover obvious safety issues, such as how sturdy seat belts must be or the amount of force the vehicle’s frame must be able to withstand. They also cover less-obvious safety issues, such as how the vehicle’s controls must be labeled and which ones should be lit up when the vehicle’s headlights are on so that drivers can still see and operate the controls at night.

Finally, the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards also cover how a vehicle must respond after a crash. These rules include information on what fabrics to use so that vehicles are flame-retardant and how fuel systems should be designed to avoid the risk of an explosion after a crash.

Car designers are allowed to make cars safer than the FMVSS requires. However, car companies may not sell cars that are less safe than the FMVSS require. A driver injured by a car that doesn’t meet the FMVSS minimum standards may be able to seek compensation from the car company for manufacturing a dangerous vehicle.

If you’ve been injured by an unsafe or defectively made or maintained vehicle, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced NH car accident attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. For a free and confidential telephone consultation, call us today at (888) 332-5855.

Categories: 
Related Posts
  • Who is Responsible if I’m Hit by a School Bus? Read More
  • Why Are Injuries Suffered in Red-Light Crashes So Severe? Read More
  • What if I’m Injured by a Trailer That Came Unhitched on the Road? Read More
/
Why Choose Tenn And Tenn Let Our Family Help Your Family
  • A Family Firm

    We are a family committed to providing excellent service to our clients.

  • Statewide Service
    We work hard to obtain the best results possible for clients throughout New Hampshire.
  • Trial-Tested Attorneys
    Our lawyers are experienced courtroom advocates who are ready to take your case to trial to obtain justice.
Free Injury Consultations Available Contact Us Today

Whether you have questions or you’re ready to get started, our award-winning legal team is ready to help. Complete our form below or call us at (888) 332-5855.

  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.
  • By submitting, you agree to be contacted about your request & other information using automated technology. Message frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Acceptable Use Policy

Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship.