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After accurately modeling the 1987 4Runner's vehicle characteristics, the steering and braking inputs of our client and the terrain at the accident scene, a computer simulation was developed resulting in a video animation which demonstrated that the 1987 Toyota 4Runner was defective in design which caused the vehicle to have an unreasonable propensity to roll over in foreseeable driving maneuvers. We then modeled the 1996 Toyota 4Runner's vehicle characteristics (redesigned by Toyota for better stability) and ran it through the accident scene terrain and again duplicated the driver's steering and braking inputs. The 1996 4Runner did not roll over; it merely spun out. Finally, we made minor modifications to the 1987 4Runner's design and again ran the vehicle through the accident sequence. Like the redesigned 1996 4Runner, the modified 1987 4Runner did not roll over, demonstrating that minor modifications to the vehicle would have prevented the accident. |
WelcomeWe are glad to present a new issue of our newsletter after a longer than anticipated break since the last issue. In this issue we feature case reports on noteworthy verdicts for two delightful senior citizens, a settlement in a crashworthiness case, and two important appellate cases handled by the firm, one in the Tenth Circuit and one before the Kansas Supreme Court. In This Issue: |
A four-week jury trial in Great Falls, Montana was averted after Toyota Motor Corporation agreed to settle a products liability action brought against the company in which our firm alleged that the 1987 Toyota 4Runner has an unreasonable propensity to roll over in foreseeable driving maneuvers. Despite a wealth of information about the rollover propensity of sport utility vehicles like the CJ Jeeps, the Suzuki Samurai and the Ford Bronco II, Toyota introduced the 4Runner in 1984. The 4Runner was apparently rushed into production to compete with the Chevrolet Blazer, Jeep Cherokee and Ford Bronco and Explorer.| page1 | page2 | page3 | page4 | page5 | page6 | page7 | page8
