Defective Vehicle Headrests Kills Husband of 50 Years
Our client and her husband of nearly 50 years were traveling on the Florida Turnpike in their new full-sized four-door pickup truck. As traffic began to slow, our client’s vehicle was struck from behind. Our client and her husband were both wearing seatbelts. Our client suffered only minor injuries, but her husband died on scene from a fatal spinal fracture.
Partner Donald Fountain and Attorney Ben Whitman hired a team of experts to inspect the vehicle. The investigation revealed the impact of the collision caused the driver’s headrest to fracture and break, forcing the driver’s head and neck to hyperextend, which resulted in a fatal fracture and aortic dissection. Fountain and Whitman brought the case against the vehicle manufacturer on six counts for design defects, manufacturing defects, and defective warnings and instructions, as well as the insurance company of the driver and owner of the commercial vehicle that caused the accident for their negligence. A confidential settlement was reached that will provide financial security for our client and her family.