Atlanta Jury Awards $2,155,000 in Airbag Failure Death

On November 11, 2004, a car accident occurred in which one occupant's airbag deployed, but the front passenger's airbag did not. The front passenger sustained injuries and died on December 24, 2004. The administrator of the deceased's estate later settled all claims against the at-fault driver and their insurance company for $45,000 for wrongful death.

On November 3, 2006, the administrator of the deceased's estate and the permanent guardians of a minor occupant filed a lawsuit against the vehicle manufacturer, DaimlerChrysler, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division. The plaintiffs alleged strict product liability, negligence, and wrongful death, seeking punitive and compensatory damages for pain and suffering, medical and funeral expenses, and wrongful death.

During the trial, both sides presented expert testimony. Plaintiffs' experts offered opinions on accident reconstruction, the alleged failure of the airbag to deploy, the direct causation of injuries by the accident, and the economic value of the deceased's life. Defense experts provided counter-opinions on accident reconstruction, injury causation, vehicle safety, airbag function, and economic losses.

A jury found that DaimlerChrysler was negligent in the manufacturing of the vehicle and that this negligence directly caused the death of the front passenger. The jury awarded the plaintiffs $2,200,000, which included damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, funeral expenses, and wrongful death. However, due to the prior settlement, DaimlerChrysler was entitled to a $45,000 credit. Judgment was entered on January 20, 2009, for $2,155,000.