Jury Awards $242 Million in Defective Seatbelt Rear-End Crash
One driver rear-ended another vehicle, causing the front seats to collapse. The occupants of the rear-ended vehicle were thrown forward, injuring their children. Both children suffered traumatic brain injuries, and one fell into a coma. They required extensive rehabilitation and will face lifelong issues. The parents sued the car manufacturer, alleging the seat belt system was defectively designed. They also sued the driver who caused the initial collision.
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
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $24,200,000
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Head/Brain Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $24,200,000 is above the median of $1,893,000 for head/brain injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $93,169 to $9,140,000, based on 45 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A family was involved in a rear-end collision in their 2002 Lexus ES 300. The parents were in the front seats, and their two young children, ages five and three, were restrained in the back. The impact caused the front seats to collapse backward, catapulting the parents into the rear and injuring the children. Both children suffered traumatic brain injuries, with one falling into a coma. They required extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation, including therapy to relearn walking and talking, and are expected to face lifelong learning difficulties.
The parents, individually and on behalf of their children, filed a lawsuit against the vehicle's manufacturers, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., and Toyota Motor Corp. They alleged the car's belting system was defectively designed, specifically lacking a pretensioner that would tighten the seat belts during a rear-end collision. The plaintiffs also named the driver of the other vehicle as a defendant.
During the proceedings, the children's stipulated medical expenses amounted to approximately $575,700 and $560,600. A jury subsequently awarded $242 million to the plaintiffs. This award included $3 million each to the parents for their mental anguish and $144 million in punitive damages against the manufacturer defendants. The jury apportioned liability at 90 percent to Toyota Motor Corp., 5 percent to Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., and 5 percent to the defendant driver.
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 went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- 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 differs from typical similar cases
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