Ford Motor Company Penalized $73 Million in Court Case
In a recent court settlement, the plaintiff in a 2006 lawsuit was awarded $73 million following a lawsuit against Ford Motor Company. The plaintiff sued the company claiming they were negligent for an automobile accident that killed two members of a Presbyterian church and injured two others. Accident reports said the van the church members were driving began wobbling. The accident report showed the tire tread came apart from the tire that was installed by Ford Motor Company, a tire that was reported defective by tire maker Goodyear.
The van overcorrected and tumbled multiple times, ultimately killing the driver and front passenger. The lawsuit claimed that Ford did not notify dealers about a tire replacement notification they had received from Goodyear, which included the tires in question in this incident. The court settlement included $50,000 in punitive damages for the victims and their families.
In recent years there have been several incidents similar to this one including a very well-known case involving a recall by Chevrolet. In this recall, several million vehicles were recalled for various defects that resulted in very serious automobile accidents causing the death of many people. Although the incident in this involving Ford was only a single incident compared to several involving Chevrolet, there is always a possibility for things to get much worse. When the safety of consumers is at stake, there should be no question whether or not a company should take the proper measures to notify dealers and other parts providers about recalls or replacement programs set in place to remove defective parts from vehicles.
This incident could easily have been avoided if the 2002 notice that Ford had received regarding the replacement tires had not gone ignored. As a result of the company’s negligence, two people lost their lives and two others have been seriously injured in an automobile accident that should never have taken place. You should always be sure to check with the dealer where you purchased your car to ensure whether the vehicle is completely safe and there are no defective parts. If you or somebody you know is injured as a result of defective parts in a vehicle, an attorney can provide assistance in getting compensation for any injuries or damages associated with an automobile accident.
