ST. LOUIS, Mo. — In a landmark decision, a Missouri jury on Thursday awarded $462 million in damages to the families of two men killed in a 2019 accident involving a Volkswagen and a tractor-trailer manufactured by Wabash. The massive award stems from allegations that the trailer’s rear-impact guard failed during the incident on Interstate 44/55, resulting in fatalities of the driver, Taron Tailor, 30, and his passenger, Nicholas Perkins.
The case, which highlights concerns over the safety of truck components designed to prevent undercarriage crashes, concluded with a finding that the guard was defective, leading to the jury’s decision in favor of the plaintiffs after a mistrial earlier in 2023 due to a hung jury. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argued that Wabash neglected necessary improvements to the design of the rear-impact guard, opting instead to allocate resources to legal defenses over innovations that could enhance safety.
Attorneys representing the families claimed in court that Wabash failed to update its rear-impact guard design for three decades, despite the fact that doing so would have cost about $15 million annually. The jury awarded punitive damages totaling $450 million, reflecting the severity of the negligence they attributed to the company.
During the trial, it was disclosed that the Volkswagen CC driven by Tailor went underneath the trailer, tearing off the rear guard upon collision. The defense noted that critical evidence was excluded from the trial, including the fact that Tailor had a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit and neither he nor Perkins were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.
Despite the evidence presented, the jury assigned 65% of the responsibility for the accident to Wabash and 35% to Tailor, citing negligence on part of the company that contributed significantly to the tragedy. This included findings of liability for aggravating circumstances and a product defect directly linked to the fatalities involved.
In response to the verdict, Wabash maintained its stance that its products are designed with a focus on safety and regulatory compliance. The company’s General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer Kristin Glazner expressed disagreement with the jury’s decision, stating that alternative designs for the rear-impact guard available at the time would not have altered the outcome of the crash.
This catastrophic event brings to light the ongoing discourse about vehicle safety standards and manufacturer accountability in the automotive industry. The case also raises questions about the role of legal systems in driving companies towards greater innovation in safety technologies.
The broader implications of this judgment could potentially influence future design and safety standards for rear-impact guards, as well as the legal strategies companies might employ to defend against similar claims.
As fallout from the verdict continues, Wabash signaled their intent to explore all legal options, suggesting that this may not be the final chapter in the legal battle surrounding this tragic incident.
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