Case at a glance
- Recovery: Confidential Settlement
- Injury: Neck fracture and severe hand injuries
- Practice: Personal Injury
- Attorney: Brian Beckcom
A tire failure on a family drive
J.P. was driving her family on a road near Rosenberg, Texas, when the right rear tire failed. She lost control of the SUV, and it rolled over.
J.P. suffered a broken neck. Her daughter sustained severe hand injuries, including the loss of fingers. The case involved both the mother’s recovery and the lasting effect of the daughter’s injuries.
The lawsuit examined why the tread separated
The family brought a product-liability lawsuit against the tire manufacturer in federal court. Their claim was that the tire was defective.
Brian and the VB Attorneys team argued that the tire had been fully inflated and had not sustained puncture damage that would explain the failure. A tire expert reviewed the evidence and concluded that nylon overlays should have been included in its design to reduce the risk of catastrophic tread separation.
The manufacturer disputed that conclusion. Its experts maintained that the tire was not defective, and the defense challenged the way the tire had been maintained and the driver’s response. The case required more than showing that a tire had failed: it required addressing the competing explanations for that failure.
Future care was part of the case
The family’s claims addressed medical treatment, lost income, physical impairment, and the consequences of the injuries. Life-care planning experts evaluated the daughter’s future needs, including medical care, therapy, and prosthetic options.
The litigation also reached the manufacturer’s senior management. The court ordered the deposition of its president of North American operations. The case settled before trial, after that order.
A confidential settlement for the family
The parties reached a confidential settlement.
The work of Brian and the VB Attorneys team brought together the tire-failure evidence, the disputed design issues, and the care the family would need after the rollover.
Celeste’s testimonial
Celeste Perez on Brian Beckcom: "I've Been Able To Go To College & Graduate School"
J.P.’s daughter, Celeste Perez, shares what the settlement in her family’s tire-failure case meant for her future. Watch Celeste’s testimonial on YouTube.
Transcript (lightly edited for readability)
Source: VB Attorneys’ published testimonial.
Hi my name is Celeste Perez. When I was thirteen years old, I was involved in an auto accident with my mom and my dad. It was a rollover accident due to a faulty tire. And I was in the hospital for a week and a half with two missing fingers and just a bevy of other injuries. My mom ended up with broken vertebrae in her neck and she was basically partially scalped at the top.
My parents decided to contact an attorney. At first they weren’t really sure about doing it, because they didn’t really know if they had a case. But eventually, they were pointed in the direction of VB Attorneys over here and they talked to them and found out we did have a case. So it was a long and lengthy process, but it was one that resulted in a huge change in my life. The settlement from that case – when I was thirteen years old, I didn’t really realize how much it would mean in the future. But I can tell you that since then, I’ve been able to go to college and get my master’s degree debt-free, which is something that people can only dream of today. I’ve had that nest egg now ready for me whenever I need it, and I know that I can always turn back to it when I need it.
And so I would say to people, think about the future and not just today. Your mental health is also a big aspect of any accident.
And it can really change your life. And you want to be able to not have to worry about money. You know, it’s one of the one things that we feel like we should – you know we shouldn’t ask for money for things that happen to us. But it’s your right.
You are given this money so you can take care of yourself in the future.
And I’m glad that my parents did that for me. And it was the right decision. And I’m really glad that they came here to VB Attorneys. I’ve kept in touch with them all these years. And everyone here is so wonderful and so nice. And so I’m glad to be able to give this back and tell them thank you – and everyone thank you – for this opportunity.
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