Robinson v. XYZ Car Manufacturer (2008) (San Joaquin Superior Court)

$1,225,000.00

This was a highway rollover accident when plaintiffs' SUV swerved to avoid a car that had veered into plaintiffs' lane of travel. The SUV struck the center median and rolled three times. The driver of the SUV died due to head injuries. The passenger was ejected and survived. The passenger sustained major head injuries. Plaintiff sued the car manufacturer for lack of crashworthiness because the roof had crushed, killing the driver. Plaintiff also claimed that a defective seat belt caused the passenger to be ejected. The manufacturer denied any liability but offered $1,225,000 to plaintiffs who accepted the offer.