They're claiming that Ford was negligent in their design of the Maverick's fuel tank. That's bogus. It was a '77 Maverick and they have those big bumpers protecting the tank. There is nothing wrong with the "design" of the tank. It was obviously hit extremely hard to cause the tank to rupture. In the last 30 years, you haven't heard of very many Mavericks exploding from a rear-end collision (like the Pinto). This sounds like a very unusual, however very unfortunate accident...
Ford should have known more about modern technologies 30 years ago when they designed the gas tanks??..... I feel terrible for the families and their loss, but a crash bad enough to crumple a big bumper car which met all of the safety standards for the time of manufacture had to be an awesome impact for sure. That would have crippled and perhaps exploded many a car. Very sad to be sure though.
I'm sure suing Ford is some attorney's idea. They figure Ford will give them something rather than being dragged through court. Its unfortunate, but a fact of life for these sharks. Many years ago a guy was killed out here on the Severn River while skiing. He fell, or let go of the rope, and another boat hit him. Besides suing the driver of the boat, the family sued the boat manufacture and the manufacturer of the outboard motor that powered the boat.
And people wonder why insurance rates are so high. There's another good reason. Reminds me of the driver of the late '70's bronco that was driving way too fast for conditons and lost control in a mountainous area, suing Ford for an ungodly amount of money. If memory serves me correctly, I think the suit was settled out of court for something like 10.5 Million. I can't for the life of me see how some of this BS makes it to court.
It kind of like the accident a few years back here in the northwest where a dance troup from Asia wrecked a 15-passenger econoline or club wagon, whatever Ford calls it's big van, now it's nearly impossible to get insurance on one unless you promise not to carry more than 7 people. what too many people fail to mention is that they were going in excess of 80 MPH on ICE. But they're blaming Ford's designers for the high center of gravity, true? sure, but it's a truck.
Based on the amount they are sueing for, Ford will roll over and just pay it. It would cost a lot more to fight it in attorney fees.
unknown fact Even Pnitos did not have this problem once the " big bumpers came out the old bumpers had mounts that when impacted acted like a firing pin causeing them to explode, so not all pintos even had this problems let alone a big bumper mav, by the way point of interest, my friend had a 71 mav that was hit in the rear, and it burst into flames... like the old pintos,,, hmmm
