Dahl v. Bayerische Motoren Werke

The question presented by this case is whether a defendant in an automobile products liability “crash-worthiness” action can introduce evidence that the plaintiffs failure to secure himself with an operable safety belt caused or contributed to plaintiffs injuries. The trial court refused to allow such evidence to be submitted to the jury. The Court of Appeals affirmed. Dahl v. BMW, 84 Or App 483, 734 P2d 387 (1987). We reverse and remand the case for a new trial.

Early on the morning of August 6, 1980, plaintiff, Joseph Dahl, was driving through the suburbs of southwest Portland in his 1976…