Kreisman Law Offices Professional Corporation
A Philadelphia jury entered a verdict of $55 million in damages after nine days of trial testimony in favor of Carlos Martinez who suffered paralysis in a car crash when his Honda SUV rolled over. Martinez’s head hit the roof of the vehicle in the rollover. There was evidence revealed during the discovery process that showed that Honda had determined that a seat-belted driver would strike his or her head on the roof in a rollover crash. The Honda vehicle, an Integra SUV, was not further tested by Honda to resolve that defect to protect drivers and passengers in rollover incidences.
The lawyer representing Martinez maintained that the injuries suffered could have been avoided by a safer design of the seat belt that was already in existence. It is hopeful that this verdict would send a message to Honda that it must correct the defect to the seat belt in this Honda vehicle.
The jury’s verdict of $55 million included $25 million for past and future damages, $14.6 million for medical expenses and $15 million that was assigned for the benefit of Martinez’s wife for loss of consortium.
The crash took place when Martinez was driving to work in 2010 when one of the tires of his Honda Integra burst. The vehicle rolled over and Martinez struck his head on the roof. He has been rendered disabled, permanently paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair.
The attorney representing the Martinez family was Stewart J. Eisenberg.
Martinez and his family reside in Erie, Penn.
Carlos Martinez v. Honda Motor Co.
Kreisman Law Offices has been handling automobile accident cases, automotive defect cases causing injuries, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents and truck accident cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 38 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Chicago (Hyde Park, Kenwood, Back of the Yards, McKinley Park, Bridgeport, Pilsen, Chinatown, Little Village, Ukrainian Village, Humboldt Park, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Buena Park, Gold Coast, Streeterville, South Loop, Bronzeville, West Chatham, Avalon Park, Jackson Park), Evanston, Elmhurst, Richton Park and Des Plaines, Ill.
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