These Car Windows are Tough to Break in an Emergency

Sturdy car windows are an important feature that help protect people inside the vehicle and prevent thieves from getting in when no one is around. The problem, however, is that some widows are so strong that they are difficult to break when people need to, like in an emergency.

One third of all 2018 vehicles include at least some windows with laminated glass, which cannot be broken with punch tools in the event that a person is trapped in the car in an accident, if it catches fire or if it is sinking underwater. Although that is an unlikely event, a new report from AAA highlights the difference between laminated glass and tempered glass, which is designed to more easily break into tiny chunks.

“To improve safety, more vehicles are being equipped with laminated side windows – but a majority also have at least one window made of tempered glass,” John Nielsen, managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair for AAA said in a release accompanying the report. “Our research found that generally vehicle escape tools can be effective in an emergency, but only if drivers know what type of side windows they have, otherwise they could waste precious seconds trying to break glass that will not shatter.”

Laminated glass has its own important purpose: to prevent people from being ejected from a vehicle in the event of a crash. It is often used on side and sometimes rear windows, and has become increasingly common in response to a 2011 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulation requiring side airbags and stronger windows. The glass is virtually impenetrable by spring-loaded glass breaking products sold for use in the case of an emergency.

Protections against Defective Vehicles

The latest concerns about laminated glass is a good example about how car features that many owners and lessors never pay much attention to can have serious safety implications. Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of cars are recalled each year because of issues with components that would be nearly impossible to spot with the naked eye.

That is why California and some other states put the onus on car makers to ensure their vehicles are in safe working order. The California lemon law requires car manufacturers to perform a range of repairs on vehicles while they are still under warranty. If those repairs are not successful – or the car maker refuses to perform the repairs – the company is obligated to buy the car back replace it with a new one.

The California lemon law attorneys at the Bickel Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases in Southern California and across the state.  We work aggressively to resolve these cases on optimal terms for the people that we represent.

Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco.  Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law lawyer.