Pool Side Fatality Leads to $20 Million Verdict
A jury recently awarded a $20.6 million verdict in a defective product lawsuit when a woman was killed in a backyard pool accident. According to the lawsuit, the 29 year old woman suffered a spinal cord injury after the woman slid head first into the pool. When she reached the bottom of the pool slide sold by Toys R Us, it compressed and bottomed out under her weight causing her to hit the pool’s edge beneath the slide. As a result of this accident she broke her neck and was pulled unconscious from the pool. She died the following day in the hospital.
The lawsuit also claimed that federal regulations left no doubt that the slide was not only supposed to be safe for kids but for adults as well. The regulations also assume that the user of the slide may slide head first. Also according to the regulations the slide was required to hold up to three hundred and fifty pounds of weight. The Toys R Us Company at first claimed that these regulations did not apply to inflatable slides. However, the Toys R Us Company did admit its Chinese partner was not asked to perform safety tests to see if the slide met federal regulations. The award included $18 million in punitive damages against Toys R US.
In Tennessee and all across the United States, when consumers buy products especially for their children and their family, they expect them to be safe and reliable. However, sometimes businesses and companies knowingly or unknowingly sell defective or dangerous products to consumers and these products can sometimes unfortunately lead to serious injury or even death. If you or someone you know has been seriously injured or died after using a defective or dangerous product then you should speak with a Tennessee defective and dangerous product lawyer as soon as possible. They will hear your case and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve for what you have been through.
Contact us online or call us at 800.705.2121 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.
Author Bio
Jim Higgins, founder of the Higgins Firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with deep roots in Nashville, Tennessee. A 4th generation Nashvillian, Jim carries on the legal legacy of his father, a judge for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Memphis School of Law, Jim’s career began on the other side of the courtroom, defending insurance companies and learning their tactics for minimizing settlements. However, he soon realized his true calling was fighting for the rights of the injured, and for the past several years, he has exclusively represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Since then, his dedication and skill have earned him membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have secured million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, Jim focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases. His exceptional work has been recognized by his peers, earning him a spot on the Super Lawyers list from 2021 to 2024, a distinction awarded to only a select group of accomplished attorneys in each state.
