Defective Car Part: Tire Failure Results in Catastrophic Injuries
Quartzsite, Arizona: On December 9, 2007, the tread of a right rear tire separated and failed on a 1991 Ford Aerostar van, resulting in a rollover. During the rollover, the side sliding door and rear lift gate door opened, creating large portals through which Maria Avina, Edgar Novoa-Avina and Alexis Rivas-Avina were ejected. As a result of the accident, Maria Avina and Edgar Novoa-Avina were killed and Jose Avina and Alexis Rivas-Avina suffered horrible injuries.
Wigington Rumley Dunn & Blair, L.L.P. filed suit contending that the 1991 Ford Aerostar was defectively designed with respect to its side sliding door latch system, and lift gate system latch, which failed during the accident. This case settled for a confidential sum.