Injuries from broken tailgate

thanna2074 · #1 10-11-2004, 11:37 AM

I am an attorney in Akron, Ohio and I represent the family of a man that died and a man that suffered a serious brain injury as a result of the tailgait straps on a 2003 Sierra breaking. Any information anyone could provide regarding the straps would be greatly appreciated.

jeverett · #2 10-11-2004, 11:57 AM

All I know about them is mine broke b/c a fat kid did a butt-flop on my tailgate, but nobody got hurt..until I smacked him.
It's got something to do with the material they're made of I think, and they rust to the point where they eventually snap in half.. I do know that GM is replacing these faulty cables with new "improved" ones under warranty.

I hate to hear about those 2 families, that's got to be horrible.

ChevyLover247 · #3 10-11-2004, 12:05 PM

Have you spoken to GM about this? I recently purchased an '04 Silverado and my tailgate straps were rusted about a month after I got it. GM tells me there's no recall on my VIN # so they can't help me. They state that although the straps are rusted it doesn't mean they have weakened - good answer!!! Are they going to be responsible if/when something happens when my tailgate falls off?? Good luck with this case... I hope the manufacturer is held responsible. It's terrible to say, but you would think they could help us with these issues after paying so much for a new vehicle and even more so when a tragedy like this happens. They should be held accountable!!! Maybe they need a couple more law suits to do something about it!!!
Amy

thanna2074 · #4 10-11-2004, 12:07 PM

Thanks Jayson. The man that died had 3 small children. It is an extremely difficult time for them. Please keep them in your prayers.

thanna2074 · #5 10-11-2004, 12:09 PM

Thanks Amy. We'll see what happens.

Ape0r · #6 10-11-2004, 01:36 PM

jeverett is right, they used galvanized steel cables in the factory, and these cables corrode until they become too weak to support a large load on the tailgate, and we all know what happens when a large load (fat kid

) is placed on the tailgate. GM is replacing them with stainless steel cables, but they sure are taking their sweet time about it.

jeep_cj4x4 · #7 10-11-2004, 02:28 PM

i just got my letter yesterday stating they are ready and I can call for an appointment to replace them.

gremlin96 · #8 10-11-2004, 09:03 PM

i do know you dont need to over load the tail gate, for the straps to brake. a place i worked for the owners have all chevy trucks thay have had to replace them on there trucks after a year. the most thay load in the back of the truck is a bag of trash or fishing rods and cooler.

I have one tailgait strap off a nother truck. it looks good enuff to put on my brand new truck. but its a two part unit its broken in the center. the guy who owns the truck had a problem with the tail gate and never used the bed. I helped him get the gate down and fix the sticking both sides gave away when the tail gate opend.

sc_customs · #9 10-11-2004, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeverett

All I know about them is mine broke b/c a fat kid did a butt-flop on my tailgate, but nobody got hurt..until I smacked him.

LOL!

jeverett · #10 10-12-2004, 07:42 AM

He told me he'd buy me new cables...you just can't trust 13 year olds anymore.

Shortbus · #11 10-12-2004, 11:37 AM

They must have fixed these for 03 I haven't had a problem with them. My dad went through a set on his 2000 already though.

Quote:

All I know about them is mine broke b/c a fat kid did a butt-flop on my tailgate, but nobody got hurt..until I smacked him.

LOL Damn kids.

skipr · #12 10-13-2004, 03:50 AM

I don't know if the 1998 cables are the same, but they sure fit the description. Black nylon coating on cables (about 1 1/2 feet) with high pressure crimp connector ends (slide lock eye and a bolt down eye). Broke with no load on tailgate, just opened it. The weight of the tailgate was enough. the cables break, no crimp connector pull outs. In fact I have saved the old pieces. I have a bad habit of saving all replaced parts on truck.

jeverett · #13 10-13-2004, 08:28 AM

And how is that a bad habit? I've done it with the past 3 trucks I've owned, and actually, in some cases, I've needed them to fall back on...ya know, like an alibi.

Gooseneck · #14 10-13-2004, 12:03 PM

If the cables on my Chevy were to break the tailgate would only fall about an inch and be stopped by the bumper. Have people actually died from this?

Shortbus · #15 10-13-2004, 12:14 PM

/\I really can't fathom it but anything is possible. No disrespect to the person that died from this, but there are some really dumb people out there. Just the other day I seen a video of kids mixing powdered chlorine and isopropl alcohol toghether in a glass jar. The kid then proceded to cap the mixture off and shake it until it exploded in his hands. Really stupid, but you can't blame the manufactures of either product yes when mixed toghether they create a rapidly expanding gas that if confined in a small space will explode with great force.

I don't know where I'm going with this I just think with a little common sense these days most accidents can be avoided and to many people are quick to blame or sue a manufacture for what is most likely operator error. A simple preinspection of the tailgate straps prior to using them would most likely have saved the guys life. Just like when you get on a plane or jet to fly they check everything out before they use it.

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