The Ford Pinto Case: Legal and Unethical

From 1971 to 1980, Ford Motor Company marketed the Pinto, a subcompact car. There were major problems with the early models leaking fuel and catching on fire after relatively low-speed, rear-end collisions easily ruptured the gas tanks. The leaking fuel sometimes started fires and explosions that tragically led to fatalities or serious burns. Many victims or families of victims of these Pinto fires sued Ford Motor Company in attempt to recover damages for the effects of wrongful …

…to determine that people should be allowed to die or to be seriously injured because it would cost too much to prevent it. Additionally, the analysis does not take into account all the consequences, one being the negative publicity that Ford received. Some things just can't be measured in terms of dollars, and that includes human life. References: Pinto Madness: Mark Dowie (1977). [Online] Retrieved Jan. 24, 2002. Available: http://www.motherjones.com/mother_jones/SO77/toc.html