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Case Summaries

Defective Car Design: Dodge Defects Cause Driver to Crash into Building

As Mr. Fidel Flores, Jr. approached an intersection in his 2006 Dodge Durango SUV, his vehicle began to accelerate and, not able to control it, he drove through the intersection and crashed through a brick wall into an apartment building. In the apartment building, the vehicle struck Bettie Nelson and Wendell Keetch, pinning Ms. Nelson between the wall of the kitchen and the vehicle, killing her and severely injuring Mr. Keetch.

Wigington Rumley Dunn & Blair LLP filed a suit contending that the vehicle was defective in design due to an inadequate fault detection system, which was not strong enough to anticipate foreseeable serious unwanted outcomes, including unintended accelerations.

Mr. Keetch sought to recover for past and future reasonable and necessary medical expenses for the care and treatment of his injuries; physical impairment, both past and future; physical pain and mental anguish, both past and future; and a diminution of enjoyment of life, both past and future. This case settled for a confidential sum.