Jury Awards $42.9 Million in Rollover Product Liability
One driver was in a pickup truck when another vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign and hit the rear side of the pickup. The pickup lost control, rolled over, and landed on its roof. The driver suffered severe spinal injuries resulting in paralysis. The driver and their spouse sued the vehicle manufacturer, alleging the truck's roof, restraint system, and warnings were defectively designed. They claimed the roof did not provide adequate protection in the rollover and the seat belt allowed too much movement. The lawsuit also argued the manufacturer did not test the vehicle for roof strength standards in rollovers. The jury found the other driver 10% at fault and awarded damages.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Spinal Cord Injury Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are among the most catastrophic outcomes of car accidents, potentially resulting in partial or complete paralysis. These injuries require extensive medical care and significantly impact quality of life.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $42,900,000
- County
- Weld County, CO
- Resolved
- 2023
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Evidence, Family Law
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $42,900,000 is near the median of $36,093,664 for spinal cord injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $7,000,000 to $52,000,000, based on 26 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A driver of a 2019 Toyota Tundra pickup truck was involved in a collision after a minivan allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign and struck the side of the truck. The impact caused the Tundra to roll over and land on its roof on an embankment. The driver sustained cervical spine injuries, resulting in quadriplegia.
The injured driver and spouse subsequently filed a lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corp. The plaintiffs alleged the Tundra's roof, occupant restraint system, and warnings were defectively designed and unreasonably dangerous. They contended that the roof failed to provide adequate protection during the rollover and that the driver's seat belt allowed excessive occupant excursion. The plaintiffs further asserted that the defendant had not tested the vehicle for compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 216a, which sets minimum standards for roof crush performance.
A jury ultimately awarded the plaintiffs more than $42.9 million. The jury assigned 10% of the fault for the incident to the driver of the minivan. The award included $5 million for loss of consortium.
Understanding This Case
- Spinal cord injuries are typically permanent, though some incomplete injuries may see partial recovery. Life expectancy may be reduced, and quality of life is significantly impacted.
- 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 Weld County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2023, 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
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