A Seattle, Washington jury awarded $123 million to victims and their families of a 2015 Ride the Ducks crash which resulted in the death of five people and injured more than 60 people. The trial lasted approximately four months against the manufacturer of a popular Ride the Ducks amphibious vehicle and the company responsible for operating the vehicles.
Ride the Ducks International is a Branson, Missouri based manufacturer which creates vehicles that operate on land and water. The vehicles are created using World War II-era “duck” type amphibious vehicles. The fatal crash occurred when the vehicle, driving on land, crossed the centerline of a bridge and struck a charter bus of international students.
The jury found that Ride the Ducks International was 67% to 70% responsible for the crash and injuries. The jury also determined that Ride the Ducks of Seattle, the operator of the tour vehicle, was 30% to 33% at fault for the fatal collision. Ride the Ducks Seattle released a statement confirming that the company has made changes, including: 1) instituting regular testing to their vehicles in addition to inspections conducted by the Washington state and U.S. Coast Guard, and 2) removing the bridge in question from their usual route for rides.
If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident involving a recreational vehicle, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling 713-231-9360 or toll free at 1‑800-594-4884.