Frisco Jury Awards $4.9M in Car Design Defect Verdict

A passenger in a 2014 Honda CRV suffered severe head injuries after the vehicle was broadsided by another driver who ran a red light in Frisco, Texas, on June 30, 2018. The impact caused the passenger's head to strike the driver, despite the deployment of side and front airbags. The passenger, then 17 years old, sustained permanent cognitive deficits and disfigurement, while the driver suffered only minor injuries.

The injured passenger subsequently filed a lawsuit against American Honda, the vehicle's manufacturer, alleging a design defect. The plaintiff contended that the absence of a front center airbag and a reverse geometry seatbelt contributed to the severe head injury. The driver of the Honda also sought damages for witnessing the sister's injuries. American Honda denied the existence of a design defect and argued there was no proof that the proposed design changes would have prevented the specific injuries sustained. The company also challenged the economic and technical feasibility of such design modifications. Claims against the at-fault driver settled for policy limits prior to trial.

Following a ten-day trial, a jury found the Honda CRV had a design defect when manufactured and also found the at-fault driver negligent. The jury apportioned 23% of the fault to American Honda and 77% to the settled at-fault driver. The jury awarded the plaintiff approximately $180,808 for past medical expenses, $7,000,000 for future medical expenses, and $1,000,000 for lost earning capacity. Non-economic damages included $500,000 for past physical impairment, $2,000,000 for future physical impairment, $4,000,000 for pain and suffering, $6,000,000 for mental anguish, and $500,000 for disfigurement. The plaintiff's brother was awarded $250,000 on his bystander claim. The raw verdict totaled over $21 million, leading to a judgment of $4,929,085 entered against American Honda after applying comparative fault. American Honda has since filed a motion for a new trial, citing, among other issues, excessive damages. The motion remains pending.