Huie Secures Defense Verdict for Hyundai in Product Liability Trial

Huie attorneys Tom Bazemore and Morgan Turner recently secured a defense verdict for Hyundai Motor Company in a product liability trial in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Plaintiff was the unrestrained left rear passenger in the subject 2016 Hyundai Accent that was rear-ended by a Jeep Wrangler. Plaintiff claimed a lack of rear-impact crashworthiness due to the rear intrusion into the vehicle from the impact with the Jeep, which the Plaintiff claimed propelled her into the back of the driver seat.

The defense proved that Plaintiff’s injuries resulted from reckless driving by the operator of the Jeep Wrangler and Plaintiff’s failure to wear her seatbelt. The defense also proved that the subject 2016 Hyundai Accent was not defective and unreasonably dangerous. The vehicle’s rear structure is consistent with other vehicles in its class manufactured worldwide and no other compact car would have performed better in the collision. The jury returned a unanimous defense verdict for Hyundai.