$6.5 Million Awarded in Defective Seatbelt Injury

A judgment against Ford Motor Company was awarded to a Tennessee Teen’s family after he was paralyzed from the waist down in a two car crash in 2002 that killed 3 which included his Father and Grandfather.

Billy Meals was a rear seat passenger in his grandfather’s Ford when they were struck head on by John Harris, who was also killed in the accident. Billy was wearing his seatbelt. However due to his size, the adult seatbelt did not fit him properly and the shoulder strap was located behind his back. The Memphis Tennessee Court found that Ford was responsible for the boy’s enhanced injuries. They also found Billy’s father to be 15% at fault as the custodial parent. The defendant, John Harris, who was intoxicated and tested positive for cocaine was found to be 70% at fault.