Voncile Hill, 62, and her husband Melvin Hill, 74, were farmers traveling from their home to pick up a tractor part when their tire blew out. Their 2002 Ford Super Duty F-250 pickup rolled over. They did not survive the accident. Their children sued Ford and others.
A jury found that Ford had sold 5.2 million “Super Duty” trucks with weak roofs that would crush people in the event of a rollover. The weak roofs were found in all “Super Duty” models between 1999 and 2016. The jury unanimously imposed a $1.7 billion verdict against Ford Motor Co. A representative for Ford said that the company plans to appeal. Per their statement, “While our sympathies go out to the Hill family, we do not believe the verdict is supported by the evidence.”
The plaintiffs claim that evidence showed the wreck was survivable and the Hills died because they were crushed by the truck’s roof. Attorneys submitted evidence of almost 80 similar wrecks where others had been killed or injured when the roofs crushed them during rollovers.
When someone is injured or dies as a result of an accident, financial recovery may be available. Such recovery is particularly important when permanent, life-changing injuries are incurred. It is important to contact someone who understands the intricacies of the injured party’s right to recover.
If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling 713-222-7211or toll-free at 1-800-594-4884. Abraham Watkins offers a free consultation to anyone wishing to pursue a claim for such injuries or fatalities.