Alabama Jury Levies $9.9 Million Verdict In Auto Crash Case Involving Design And Placement Of Muffler
On Monday, an Alabama jury levied a $9.9 million verdict against a car manufacturer following a 2010 crash that resulted in a fuel-fed fire that killed the passenger and injured the driver. The verdict followed a three-week trial. The plaintiffs’ attorney claimed that when the car crashed into a utility pole, a sharp edge of the metal muffler near the fuel tank caused the fuel tank to rupture, spill gasoline, and cause the fire. The plaintiffs’ attorney contended after the verdict that this case establishes that industry standards require that mufflers should be behind the rear axle and not next to a fuel tank. The verdict was broken down as follows: $3 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages to the surviving driver, and $3.9 million to the parents of the deceased passenger. The verdict is likely to be appealed.
