Auto Transmission Design – Settlement

Reached against auto manufacturer and driver during Trial in which we were lead plaintiffs’ trial counsel for over 20 victims struck down, some fatally, by an out-of-control car. We claimed that the operator had inadvertently pressed down on the accelerator, instead of the brake, as she shifted from “park” into “drive”, causing the car to suddenly accelerate, which in turn caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. We contended that the vehicle was defectively designed for not having a brake shift interlock to prevent the operator from shifting into gear unless the operator’s foot was on the brake pedal.