Plaintiff S.V. was working at the Grand Prix Car Wash and Detail as a cashier. An over-sized pickup truck failed to stop at the end of the car wash’s conveyor belt and rolled downhill towards customers. S.V. attempted to stop the runaway truck, but failed and was crushed between the truck and a concrete planter.
S.V. suffered severe injuries to his spine and upperbody, including vocal cord paralysis and cervical spine fractures. He sued the owner for premises liability, contending that the car wash exit area was improperly designed for its intended use, constituting a dangerous condition that the owners failed to inspect, warn, or guard against it. The contractors and architect of the car wash were also sued for their negligence in failing to install a safety feature recommended by the car wash’s manufacture which would have prevented the accident.
Plaintiffs won a settlement of $4,492,000.
