The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

In 2001 Brian Cole suffered a fatal rollover car accident while driving in a Ford Explorer. Last week, a jury in Bay Springs, Mississippi, passed a verdict in favor of the man's family, ordering Ford to pay $131 million to his survivors. The verdict was high because the man was considered to be a prospect for the New York Mets, and the amount was related to the man's potential earnings. Once the verdict was passed down, Ford opted not to appeal the case, but instead met with the man's family and settled for a confidential amount.

The family alleged that the man's death was due to the Ford Explorer's propensity to rollover, sometimes associated with the failure of defective tires made by the company's partner Firestone. SUV rollover accidents are responsible for many deaths, and Ford has denied that the Explorer was especially prone to rollovers. It did, however, sever its relationship with Firestone over the issue. In this case, Ford said the Explorer is not a defective automobile, and was not to blame for the man's death. A spokesperson for Ford pointed out after the verdict that Cole was driving in excess of 80 mph and not wearing his seatbelt when the accident occurred. The spokesperson claimed that the jury's finding was due to the judge's exclusion of key evidence.

The total amount that Ford has spent in settling this and other lawsuits related to rollovers of the Explorer is not known. However, people continue to be killed due to SUV rollovers, especially in models with inadequate roof strength.

If you have been seriously injured or lost a loved one in an accident you believe might be due to a dangerous defective automobile, the lawyers of The Cochran Firm's Jackson, Mississippi office may be able to help. To learn more, please schedule a free case evaluation with us today.