An Indian-origin man in the US has sued American tyre major Goodyear holding it responsible for an accident that left him paralysed. Harishkumar Patel, 58, had received a spine injury in 2012 that left him paralysed when his SUV spun out of control and rolled over.
Patel and his family hold Ohio-based Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co, which made the tyre that failed on the vehicle, responsible for the crash, the Herald Palladium reported on Friday . Patel's lawyers contended that the tyre was defective from the factory and never should have been placed on a vehicle.
However, Goodyear claims that the tyre failed because it hit an object some time before the June 6, 2012, crash.Patel is suing Goodyear for the second time. Earlier, a trial in 2014 ended in a hung jury .Kevin Riddle, one of Patel's lawyers, said if the jury decides against Goodyear the panel will also decide on a monetary award for his client. He said the cost of care for Patel for the rest of his life is expected to exceed $6 million.
An independent tyre consultant, William Woehrle, who assesses the role and significance of tyres in traffic accidents, took the witness stand on Thursday .
Under direct examination by Craig Hilborn, the lead lawyer in Patel's case, Woehrle said the tyre that failed on Patel's vehicle had three manufacturer defects and one design defect.
The trial is expected to last two weeks in judge Sterling Schrock's courtroom.
