Volkswagen of America, Inc. v. Young

The decedent was stopped at a red light in a Volkswagen Beetle when another car struck him from behind; the force caused the seat's bracketing and adjustment mechanisms to break away, hurling him through the windshield into the car ahead and killing him. His estate (plaintiff) sued Volkswagen (defendant), alleging the vehicle was defectively designed in a way that made it structurally hazardous in foreseeable rear-end collisions.

Whether an automobile manufacturer is under a duty to take reasonable steps to design its vehicles in a manner that minimizes injuries caused by collisions.