Dallas Jury Awards $144 Million in Defective Auto Seat Case
A rear-end collision caused a car's front seats to collapse into the back seat, injuring two children. The children sustained skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries. The lawsuit alleged the car had a design defect and a warnings defect.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Head/Brain Injury Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) range from mild concussions to severe brain damage. Car accidents are a leading cause of TBI, with effects ranging from temporary symptoms to permanent cognitive impairment.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Settlement
- Amount
- $242
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Head/Brain Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Strict products liability, negligence, gross negligence, breach of warranty, malice and gross neglect
Settlement Context
This settlement of $242 is below the median of $4,800,000 for head/brain injury cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $50,000 to $13,478,106, based on 17 cases in our database.
Case Overview
In 2016, a family driving a 2002 Lexus ES 300 sedan was involved in a rear-end collision on a highway in Dallas, Texas. Two young children, aged 3 and 5, were secured in child safety seats in the back seat when another vehicle struck their car from behind. The front driver's and passenger's seats of the Lexus allegedly failed and collapsed rearward into the back seat, striking the children and causing severe injuries, including skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries.
The plaintiff parents filed a lawsuit in Dallas County, Texas, alleging strict products liability, negligence, gross negligence, and breach of warranty against Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. and Toyota Motor Corp., the vehicle's manufacturers. The complaint contended that the front seats had design and warnings defects that allowed them to collapse in an otherwise survivable collision, causing the children's injuries. The lawsuit also included negligence claims against the driver and owner of the vehicle that caused the rear-end collision.
A jury found that the Lexus had both a design defect and a warnings defect that resulted in the children's injuries. The jury determined Toyota Motor Corp. was 90 percent liable, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. was 5 percent liable, and the striking driver was 5 percent liable for the family's injuries. Compensatory damages were awarded to the children for physical pain, mental anguish, loss of earning capacity, disfigurement, and future medical expenses, totaling tens of millions of dollars. Each parent also received compensatory damages for past and future mental anguish. Additionally, the jury assessed $129.6 million in exemplary damages against Toyota Motor Corp. and $14.4 million against Toyota Motor Sales.
Understanding This Case
- Most mild TBIs resolve within weeks to months. Moderate to severe TBI often results in permanent impairment affecting cognition, behavior, and physical function.
- This case was resolved through a settlement, avoiding the uncertainty and expense of a trial. Settlements typically resolve faster and provide guaranteed compensation.
- This case was resolved in Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2018, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome significantly deviates from similar cases
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