Nissan Held Responsible for Brake Defect that Caused Fatal Crash

A Los Angeles jury found Nissan to blame for a brake defect that led to a fatal accident in 2012. Last month, the Los Angeles Superior Court panel determined that the Hollywood crash, which took the lives of a mother and two children, was caused by brake problems on an Infiniti QX56. As a result, Nissan must pay the victims’ family $24 million.

The fatal crash occurred on August 29, 2012. According to police, the driver of the Infiniti, Solomon Methenge, veered into oncoming traffic. He crashed into a minivan driven by Saida Juana Mendez-Bernardino. The 27-year-old mother perished in the crash, along with her daughters, ages 4 and 6.

Nissan Failed to Warn Owners of Brake Defect

Methenge was initially blamed for the accident and sued by the other plaintiffs, Hilario Cruz—the deceased girls’ father—and Mendez-Bernardino’s oldest daughter. However, the criminal case and lawsuit against Methenge were both dropped when Nissan came under fire for a brake issue affecting some of its vehicles. Nissan was hit with a class action lawsuit over a software defect that can cause the hydraulic braking system to fail. The brake defect could cause the vehicle to fail to stop when the driver hit the brakes. The issue affected a few Nissan vehicles, including the Infiniti QX56.

According to Methenge’s attorney, Nissan knew about the brake defect, yet failed to recall the vehicles. The carmaker informed car dealers about the problem, but consumers only found out about it if they experienced the issue.

“If a company knows about a dangerous defect and fails to warn consumers, there should absolutely be consequences,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in an auto accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.

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