Taillight-obscuring paint making the roads more dangerous
People in Austin are proud of the cars they drive -- many of them justifiably so. Many people put a lot of work into customizing and detailing their cars to keep them not just in perfect running condition but to make them unique and individual. One auto product, however, is under scrutiny for what some people see as creating a dangerous effect -- one that has been a factor in car accidents.
The product is a kind of paint meant for taillights that renders the lights much darker than they are intended to be. It would seem this product would be an obvious safety hazard, and a man who slammed his motorcycle into the back of a pickup truck whose lights he could not see recently took the paint manufacturer to court. The man on the motorcycle was paralyzed from the waist down as a result of the crash.
The recent case found that the paint manufacturer was not liable for damages. However, other defendants in the case opted to settle with the injured man earlier rather than take their chances on a trial. They include the pickup truck driver as well as a friend of his who allegedly passed the vehicle on its inspection in spite of its illegal light tinting.
According to the company, its product is not meant for on-the-road use. In fact, the can of the product does say this, and the company's product website also makes reference to this. However, this warning won't stop people who are set on using it on their vehicles. When negligence leads to dangerous conditions on the road that result in accidents, car accident attorneys can help injured people to seek the compensation they deserve.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "St. Louis County lawsuit is 'cautionary tale' on obscuring taillights," Jennifer Mann, Jan. 31, 2013