Vehicle Defect Case Examples

v. Chrysler Corp.

Circuit Court for the State of Wisconsin, Dane Co.
Belted driver steered to avoid a head-on collision. Roof welds separated at the side rail, between the A and B-pillars on the driver’s side, and the windshield header failed. Vehicle rolled 2 times. The “V” formed by the roof crush struck the driver on the head.

Injury and Result:

Brain injury. Jury trial; $5 million settlement.

v. General Motors and Braeger Chevrolet

Milwaukee County Circuit Court
Circuit Court, Milwaukee, WI

2001 Chevrolet Blazer skidded on black ice and rolled over. Roof crush over driver.

Injury and Result:

Quadriplegia. Confidential settlement.

v. General Motors and Braeger Chevrolet

Dane County Circuit Court, Madison, WI
Seatbelted rear seat passenger received severe brain trauma when vehicle rolled over and the roof crushed over his occupant space.

Injury and Result:

Severe brain trauma. Confidential settlement.

v. Toyota Motor Company

Superior Court of California, County of Alameda
Rollover/roof crush on highway. Seatbelted front passenger rendered a quadriplegic when roof crushed over passenger. Vehicle rolled 2 1/2 times.

Injury and Result:

Quadriplegia. Confidential settlement.

v. DaimlerChrysler Corp.

District Court, Bexar County, TX
Seatbelted driver of a 1996 Dodge Ram pickup truck rendered a quadriplegic when roof crushed in during a rollover.

Injury and Result:

Quadriplegia. Confidential settlement.

v. Ford Motor Company

Court of Common Pleas, Montour County, PA
Right front seatbelted passenger was rendered a quadriplegic when roof crushed in during a rollover of a 1998 Mercury Tracer.

Injury and Result:

Quadriplegia. Confidential settlement.

v. General Motors Corp.

Circuit Court of Wisconsin, St. Croix County
Seatbelted driver killed in a rollover/roof crush of 2000 Pontiac Montana minivan which was hit in right rear by another vehicle.

Injury and Result:

Fatality. Confidential settlement.

v. Chrysler Corp.

Circuit Court for the State of Wisconsin, Trempealeau Co.
Driver lost control while rounding a curve causing vehicle to roll. Hatchback portion of vehicle crushed directly over belted back seat passenger.

Injury and Result:

Paraplegia. Confidental settlement.

v. Ford Motor Company

Superior Court of the State of California for the Co. of Monterey
Belted driver lost control of vehicle while rounding a mild curve on a divided highway, causing vehicle to roll over.

Injury and Result:

Quadriplegia. Confidental settlement.

v. General Motors Corp.

Fourth Judicial Dist. Court for Utah Co., Utah.
Belted driver fell asleep causing vehicle to roll 1 to 3 times. Roof crushed over the driver’s compartment.

Injury and Result:

Quadriplegia. Confidental settlement.

v. Nissan

Circuit Court of White Co., Arkansas
Belted driver steered to avoid head-on collision causing vehicle to ramp up a guy wire and roll 1.5 to 2.5 times. The windshield header failed, and the roof crushed 19 inches over the driver.

Injury and Result:

Quadriplegia. Confidental settlement.

v. Chrysler Corp.

State of Wisconsin Circuit Court, Milwaukee Co.
Driver only wearing automatic shoulder harness lost control of vehicle attempting an “S” curve. Vehicle rolled 1.5 times. Roof crushed 12 inches over the driver.

Injury and Result:

Quadriplegia. Confidental settlement.

v. Isuzu

State of Wisconsin Circuit Court, Milwaukee Co.
Driver only wearing automatic shoulder harness lost control of vehicle attempting an “S” curve. Vehicle rolled 1.5 times. Roof crushed 12 inches over the driver.

Injury and Result:

Fatality. Confidential settlement.

v. Ford Motor Company

Wayne County Superior Court, IN.
Seatbelted front seat passenger in a 1996 Ford Escort LX. The vehicle rolled over 1 1/2 times. The roof crushed in 10-12 inches. Roof crush over the passenger.

Injury and Result:

Quadriplegia. Confidential settlement.

v. General Motors Corp.

USDC for the Western Dist. of Wisconsin
Belted driver lost vehicle control to avoid deer on the road. Vehicle rolled 1.5 to 2.5 times.

Injury and Result:

Paraplegia. Confidential settlement.

v. Ford Motor Company

Price County Circuit Court, Phillips, WI
Significant head on collision and driver’s airbag failed to deploy.

Injury and Result:

Brain injury and vision impairment. Confidential settlement.

v. Nissan Motor Corp.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Milwaukee, WI
In a low speed minor collision, the front seat passenger side airbag deployed with excessive force causing permanent eye damage.

Injury and Result:

Blindness. Confidential settlement

v. Toyota Motors Corp.

Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento
Right rear lap only belted occupant suffered abdominal and spine fractures in a frontal impact when he jackknifed over the lap only seatbelt.

Injury and Result:

Abdominal and spine injuries. Confidential settlement.

v. Ford Motor Company

Superior Court of New Jersey, Gloucester County
Outbound rear passengers wearing lap belt sustained abdominal and spinal injuries when they jackknifed over lap belt in frontal collision. Seatbelt defect.

Injury and Result:

Abdominal and spine injuries. Confidential settlement.

v. DaimlerChrysler Corp.

Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento
One-quarter roll to the driver’s side. Seatbelted driver partially ejected out of the vehicle. Received head injury. Seatbelt defect and lack of side window glazing allowed driver to become partially ejected.

Injury and Result:

Head injury. Confidential settlement.

v. General Motors Corp.

Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento
Seatbelted passenger rendered a paraplegic in frontal impact. Seatbelt defect caused aortic tear resulting in paraplegia.

Injury and Result:

Paraplegia. Confidential settlement.

v. Toyota Motor Corp.

Circuit Court of Wisconsin, Rock County
Right rear seat passenger wearing lap only belt sustained abdominal and spine fracture in frontal impact when she jackknifed over the lap belt.

Injury and Result:

Severe abdominal injuries. Confidential settlement.

v. Ford Motor Company

Superior Court of California, King County
Driver of 1993 Ford Thunderbird rendered a quadriplegic due to defective seatbelt in frontal collision.

Injury and Result:

Quadriplegia. Confidential settlement.

v. Ford Motor Company

Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento
Middle rear seat passenger wearing lap only belt sustained severe abdominal injuries when she jackknifed over the lap belt.

Injury and Result:

Severe abdominal injuries resulted in loss of small intestines. Confidential settlement.

v. Ford Motor Company

Wisconsin Circuit Court, St. Croix County
Five-year-old-boy, right rear belted passenger rendered a paraplegic when in a frontal collision 40 pounds of luggage in the rear of the hatchback came forward and broke the seat back.

Injury and Result:

Severe abdominal injuries resulted in loss of small intestines. Confidential settlement.

v. Chrysler Corp.

Superior Court of California, County of Ventura
Driver of a 1988 Chrysler Fifth Avenue was run over by her own car when the vehicle went from park to reverse.

Injury and Result:

Fatality. Confidential settlement.

v. Chrysler Corp.

Driver of a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee sustained leg injuries when her vehicle ran over her after it went from park to reverse.

Injury and Result:

Leg injuries. Confidential settlement.

v. General Motors Corp.

Superior Court of California, County of Placer
1983 Chevy S-10. Driver was rearended by another vehicle and the driver’s seat back failed, causing the driver’s head to hit the back window of the pickup truck.

Injury and Result:

Quadriplegia. Confidential settlement.