Wylie, Texas Court Rules Mistrial in Child Seat Product Liability
An infant suffered severe head injuries when the car seat he was in was struck broadside in a vehicle collision. The infant's head hit the interior of the car door due to the impact. The lawsuit alleged the car seat was defectively designed and lacked adequate warnings. The jury found the car seat manufacturer and the driver who struck the vehicle liable for damages.
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
- $13,478,106
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2020
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Head/Brain Injury
- Accident Type
- T-bone
- Case Type
- Product Liability, Defective Design
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $13,478,106 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
In Wylie, Texas, parents of an infant child filed a product liability and negligence lawsuit after their son sustained catastrophic brain injuries in a December 2013 vehicle collision. The infant was a passenger in a Chevrolet Cavalier, properly secured in a child safety seat equipped with an aftermarket insert, when the vehicle was struck broadside at an intersection. The impact caused the infant's head to strike the protruding rear passenger door.
The plaintiffs alleged the car seat manufacturer, the insert manufacturer, and the striking driver were responsible. They claimed the car seat was defective in design, labeling, and marketing due to inadequate side wings and a lack of warnings regarding aftermarket inserts. The plaintiffs also argued safer alternative designs existed. All defendants denied negligence; the car seat and insert manufacturers also brought in the host driver as an additional defendant, alleging negligence for failing to maintain a proper lookout and avoid the collision.
The car seat manufacturer settled out of court but remained on the verdict sheet. A jury initially found the insert manufacturer 2% liable, the car seat manufacturer 47% negligent, and the host driver 51% negligent, awarding over $13 million in damages. The court deemed this verdict inconsistent and sent the jury back for further deliberation. The revised verdict was accepted. However, following the jury's discharge, the insert manufacturer objected to the procedural error of returning the jury for re-deliberation rather than accepting the original answers. The court ultimately declared a mistrial, and a retrial is pending.
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 2020, 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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