Daimler Hit with $160M Nuclear Verdict

Over the past week, the Texas Supreme Court agreed to hear the appeal of the over $100 million nuclear verdict against the carrier group Werner Enterprises. On Tuesday, new details emerged about a $462 million nuclear verdict against trailer manufacturer Wabash.

Additionally, a recent $160 million verdict against Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) underscores the growing financial repercussions for trucking companies and equipment manufacturers due to safety issues.

This ruling follows a two-week trial in Clarke County, Alabama, where a jury awarded $75 million in compensatory damages to Leonard Street, a truck driver rendered a quadriplegic by a crash. An additional $10 million was awarded to Street’s wife, who now cares for him, and $75 million in punitive damages was issued. Daimler Truck North America is expected to appeal the decision.

The case stems from a June 2022 accident involving a 2023 Western Star truck operated by Street. According to the Beasley Allen Law Firm, which represented Street, the truck’s cab and driver’s seat were defectively designed. Street was driving on U.S. Highway 84 when a pickup truck crossed into his lane, causing a rollover. The force of the rollover resulted in severe neck injuries due to the cab’s roof collapsing and the seat's inadequate support.

Legal Arguments and Manufacturer's Defense
The lawsuit highlighted issues with the truck's roof design, which had remained unchanged since 1995, and the suspension seat, which failed to protect Street during the rollover. The plaintiffs argued that Daimler should have made RollTek, a safety feature designed to mitigate rollover injuries, a standard option rather than an extra.

DTNA defended its product, stating that its safety testing meets industry standards and expressed plans to appeal the verdict. The company also disputed the effectiveness of the RollTek seat in mitigating injuries and criticized the methodology of expert witnesses.