Defective Cruise Control Suspected In Wrongful Death

We read today about a tragic case in which an 11-year old girl was killed in an accident that may have resulted from a defective product. According to news accounts, a 1997 Ford Econoline Van lost control near the intersection of U.S. 441 and Interstate 16 while the van was being operated by the child’s grandfather. The grandfather reported to the Georgia State Patrol that the cruise control had gotten stuck and that he could not cut it off. As the driver took the exit off of 441, he struck the curb, a tire blew out and the result was that the van went across both lanes of traffic on Highway 441 causing it to veer off the roadway and crash down a steep embankment where it hit a tree and caught fire. The Georgia State Patrol is still attempting to corroborate the statements of the grandfather, but given that the fact occurred during midday and the grandfather had no prior medical conditions, it appears that this tragic incident may have occurred as a result of a defective product.
Our firm has seen many wrongful death cases resulting from a variety of defective products. Sometimes seatbelts do not function, airbags do not deploy and products which normally are safe become deadly. We have seen product liability cases in a variety of contexts, including not only motor vehicle accidents, but also defective space heaters, defective liftgates on trucks, dangerous drugs, defective humidifiers and the like. If you or a loved one are injured or suffer a wrongful death as a result of a defective product, you may have a legal claim against the manufacturer of the product. Georgia law has long held that where a defective product results in serious injury or wrongful death, the manufacturer of the product may be liable for damages caused by a defect in the product.