Texas Defective Vehicle Fire Settles, Amount Undisclosed
A driver's car caught fire while she was using it. She escaped but was injured and her hair was burned. The car manufacturer was accused of negligently designing and manufacturing the vehicle. The driver sought damages for mental anguish and property damage.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Settlement
- Amount
- $500,000
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Burns / Lacerations
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Economic Injury, Physical Injury, Emotional Or Mental Injury
Settlement Context
This settlement of $500,000 is near the median of $500,000 for burns / lacerations cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $78,500 to $41,935,624, based on 3 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A vehicle operator filed a complaint against Ford Motor Company in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas after her 2013 Ford Edge allegedly caught fire while in use. The plaintiff claimed she was injured and her hair was burned while escaping the burning vehicle. The complaint alleged Ford negligently designed and manufactured the vehicle, specifically citing a faulty fuel line assembly and the installation of a pulse damper. The plaintiff sought $500,000 in actual damages for mental anguish and property damage.
Ford denied the allegations, asserting defenses such as contributory negligence, unavoidable accident, and failure to mitigate damages. An insurer had also filed an intervenor complaint against Ford, but those claims were later dismissed. The parties participated in mediation, which resulted in a settlement. Following the agreement, the plaintiff and defendant filed a joint stipulation of dismissal, and the court subsequently closed the case.
Understanding This Case
- 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 2015, 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 is within expected ranges
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
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