Ford Told to Pay $29 Million in Rollover Case

(Akron/Tire Review) Ford Motor Co. has been ordered to pay a rollover accident victim $29 million. The case involved a 22-year-old Texas woman who was left partially paralyzed when a Firestone ATX on her 1999 Mazda Navajo failed and the vehicle rolled over.

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire previously paid an undisclosed settlement in the case. The jury found Ford 75 per cent liable, Mazda North America, which marketed the Ford Explorer variation, 10 per cent liable and BFNAT 15 per cent liable.

The tire was allegedly a spare that had been installed on the vehicle. The accident occurred in 2002.

Ford said it planned to appeal the verdict.