Lawsuit Information Center
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal of $82.6 million verdict against Ford Motor Company. In the appeal, Ford’s product liability lawyers argued that Ford should not have to pay $55 million in punitive damages awarded in a Ford Explorer rollover lawsuit because the design met federal safety standards.
No question, $82 million is a chunk of change. But the Plaintiff was paralyzed in the crash. All of us would take being able to walk over $82 million.
The jury was obviously sending Ford a message in this case.
History of Ford Rollover Lawsuits
Ford rollover lawsuits have been a part of the American legal landscape for several decades. The first major lawsuit against Ford involving rollover accidents occurred in the late 1970s, when the automaker was sued for damages related to the design of its Ford Pinto vehicle. The Pinto was prone to catching fire in rear-end collisions, and many people were injured or killed as a result. This led to significant financial settlements for the victims and their families, as well as a change in the design of the Pinto and other vehicles produced by Ford.
In the 1980s and 1990s, there were several more lawsuits against Ford related to rollover accidents, including lawsuits involving the Ford Bronco and the Ford Explorer. These lawsuits often centered on the stability and design of these vehicles, and the lack of safety features to prevent rollovers.
In recent years, Ford has faced a number of high-profile rollover lawsuits, including lawsuits related to the Ford Escape and the Ford Explorer. These lawsuits have often centered on allegations that Ford knew about the rollover risks associated with these vehicles, but failed to take steps to improve their stability and safety.
Despite the numerous lawsuits against Ford over the years, the automaker has continued to produce vehicles that have been linked to rollover accidents. However, the company has made several design changes and safety improvements to its vehicles in recent years in an effort to reduce the risk of rollovers and protect passengers in the event of a crash.
Example Ford Rollover Lawsuits
Sure, here are some examples of Ford rollover lawsuits:
- Ford Bronco Rollover Lawsuit: In 1996, a Ford Bronco rolled over, killing three passengers. The lawsuit claimed that the vehicle was poorly designed and lacked stability, leading to the rollover. The case was settled for an undisclosed amount.
- Ford Explorer Rollover Lawsuit: In 2000, a Ford Explorer rolled over, killing one passenger. The lawsuit claimed that the vehicle was poorly designed and lacked stability, leading to the rollover. The case was settled for an undisclosed amount.
- Ford F-150 Rollover Lawsuit: In 2005, a Ford F-150 rolled over, killing the driver. The lawsuit claimed that the vehicle was poorly designed and lacked stability, leading to the rollover. The case was settled for an undisclosed amount.
Big Ford Rollover Verdict in 2022
A family in Georgia has been awarded a large sum of $1.7 billion in punitive damages from Ford after the roof of their F-250 pickup collapsed during a rollover accident in 2014, killing the elderly couple inside. The jury believed the argument presented by the plaintiffs that Ford was aware of the problem with the roof for years before the fatal crash and acted slowly to correct it, leading to other deaths due to the same design flaw.
This is a really old case that just came to trial in 2022. The first trial in 2018 ended in a mistrial.