Crumple Zones

Crumple zones are an important safety feature of cars that have contributed to the great increase in the number of head-on and rear-end collisions that are survivable. In addition, they have contributed to the increased crash-test scores.

The crumple zone idea was first used by a Mercedes-Benz engineer by the name of Béla Barényi on the 1959 Fintail model. It would be another 8 years before they were a standard feature on cars in the United States.

Crumple zones work by controlling the energy of a crash so that it is absorbed within the front or rear section of the vehicle and not in the passenger compartment by passengers. They also prevent the deformation of the passenger cabin which prevents the occupants from being injured.

The technology behind the crumple zones allows for a controlled weakening of the outer parts of the car while increasing the strength of the passenger compartment through the use of more reinforcing beams and higher strength steels. The car is basically designed to crumple like a soda can when it is hit head-on or from the rear.

By locating the crumple zones in front of and behind the main body of the car, the compacting takes place in the space of the engine compartment or trunk. This allows for passengers to walk away from crashes that look deadly.

The main downside of crumple zones is that they frequently increase the repair costs in “fender benders” and other minor accidents. This seems like a small price to pay for protection in serious accidents though.

If you have been injured in a head-on collision, contact the Madison injury car crash lawyers of Habush, Habush, & Rottier at 1-800-822-1690 to discuss your case and to determine your legal options.