$1,050,000 Settlement for Negligent Repair of Motor Vehicle

David represented a decedent, then 75 years old, with his wife, then 73, who were driving Southbound on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey when a tire separated from the defendant’s car travelling Northbound on the Garden State Parkway. The tire crashed into our client’s care rendering the driver unconscious. He was taken to St. Joseph’s in Paterson, and later transferred to a Connecticut hospital close to home. He died 3 days later, although he never regained consciousness. His wife witnessed the accident. Eight days prior to the accident, the defendant had new brakes and rotors installed by a service center (also a defendant in the case). A few days later, he heard a clunking noise and felt a vibration, and brought the car to the dealer, Maywood Acura (another defendant in the case). They did not remove the wheels, but determined there was an axle problem. The needed replacement part was not available, and due to miscommunication between the mechanic and service writer, the defendant was allowed to drive the car. He was on his way back to Maywood for the replacement when the tire separated. The decedent was retired. David retained an economist, who offered an opinion that the loss of services were $750,000.