Invest in your success.
JVRA helps lawyers win cases by providing critical information you can use to establish precedent, determine demand and win arguments.
Verdict range $0 - $100,000
ARTICLE ID 4761
Defective ________ Toyota 4-Runner - Rollover propensity - Defective seatbelt - Quadriparesis.
U.S. District Court
This action arose out of a single vehicle rollover accident involving
a ________ Toyota 4-Runner sports utility vehicle. The 30- year-old female
plaintiff driver suffered a broken neck with quadriparesis and partial
paralysis over the left side of her body as a result of the accident.
The plaintiff contended that the Toyota 4-Runner had an unreasonably
dangerous propensity to roll over, and a defective seatbelt system.
The subject accident occurred on December 10, ________, when the plaintiffs
Toyota 4-Runner went out of control and rolled over. The vehicle traveled
off the road down a sloped embankment over a fence and into a pasture
area. As the vehicle came to rest, the rear axle broke from impact.
The plaintiff contended that she was wearing her seat belt which spooled
out unexpectedly and caused her to strike the windshield header area
above the steering wheel. The plaintiff alleged that the 4-Runner
is too high, too narrow and too top-heavy and as such, has a defective
propensity to tip and roll over during turning maneuvers or collisions.
In addition, the plaintiff alleged that the seat belts in the Toyota
4-Runner are defective and fail to secure occupants during rollovers.
The medical evidence indicated that the plaintiff suffers from quadriparesis
and requires the use of a cane to ambulate outside the house. She
suffers spasticity at times in her left appendages and partial paralysis
of her left hand. The plaintiff was prepared to introduce past medical
expenses of $________. The Kansas statutory cap of damages for pain
and suffering of $________ applies to the his case. Punitive damages
were alleged by the plaintiff.
The defendant maintained that the Toyota 4-Runner does not have a
dangerous rollover propensity and that its seatbelt system is safe.
The vehicle and its components meet all applicable federal motor vehicle
safety standards. The defense maintained that the accident was caused
by the plaintiffs driving too fast for the conditions and hitting
a patch of ice unexpectedly as she rounded a corner in the road. The
4-Runner then traveled off the road down an embankment and furrowed
into the dirt, tripping and landing with such violence that the rear
axle broke on impact in the soft dirt field, according to the defense
claims. The defendant maintained that the plaintiffs injuries were
caused when, during the violent rollover, her head slipped to the
left and struck the roof above the drivers door. The defendant disputed
the plaintiffs claimed that the seatbelt spooled out during the rollover.
The case settled for an undisclosed amount four days before the scheduled
trial date.
5 ways to win with JVRA
JVRA gives you jurisdiction-specific, year-round insight into the strategies, arguments and tactics that win. Successful attorneys come to the table prepared and use JVRA to:
- Determine if a case is winnable and recovery amounts.
- Determine reasonable demand for a case early on.
- Support a settlement demand by establishing precedent.
- Research trial strategies, tactics and arguments.
- Defeat or support post-trial motions through past case histories.
Try JVRA for a day or a month, or sign up for our deluxe Litigation Support Plan and put the intelligence of JVRA to work for all of your clients. See our subscription plans.