A verdict was reached on April 2, 2015 in the highly publicized trial over Jeep’s fuel tank design brought by family who lost their four year old son in car fire
after a motor vehicle accident. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has been ordered to pay $150 million to the Walden family whose son Remington was killed when the Jeep his aunt was driving was hit from behind. The accident damaged the fuel tank causing it to leak and leading to the Jeep being completely engulfed in flames.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV had previously issued a recall for some but not most Jeep Cherokee (years 1993-2004) and the Jeep Liberty (years 2002-2007) due to the fuel tank design. On the recalled Jeep vehicles, the plastic fuel tanks sat about eleven inches from the rear bumper, inside what is known as the crush zone, an area frequently damaged in motor vehicle accidents. Jeep recalled 1.56 million Jeep Liberty and Jeep Cherokee vehicles in 2013. The National Highway Safety Administration notes that the rear-mounted type fuel tanks used in the recalled Jeep vehicles have been a factor in 37 crashes involving fire that led to 51 deaths.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident the Hendon Law Firm can help, call us today at 770-284-3737.
