A Jeep owner in Minnesota has been awarded millions after a horrifying accident involving his Jeep Grand Cherokee left him permanently disabled.
Jeffrey Wu had parked his SUV outside a Kwik Trip in Lakeville, Minnesota, and stepped out of the vehicle.
Moments later, the Jeep allegedly rolled backward and crushed his left leg.
The injuries were so severe that doctors ultimately had to amputate the limb.
Jury Awards Family $18.4 Million
According to Law360, a Dakota County jury ruled that FCA US, Jeep’s parent company, was primarily responsible for the accident.
The jury assigned:
- 70% fault to FCA
- 30% fault to Wu
That reduced the total payout, but the verdict still came to a massive $18.4 million.
The compensation reportedly includes:
- $12 million for pain, suffering, emotional distress, and disfigurement
- $2.36 million for medical expenses
- $106,000 for lost wages
- $1.5 million for lost earning capacity
- $2.5 million awarded to Wu’s wife for loss of companionship
The Lawsuit Focused On A Known Transmission Issue
The case centered around what’s known as a “park-to-reverse” issue.
That’s when a driver believes the vehicle is securely placed in park, only for it to unexpectedly slip into reverse after they exit.
Wu’s legal team argued FCA had known about similar issues for years.
The lawsuit referenced a 2016 recall involving similar concerns and claimed the automaker failed to fully address the problem across affected vehicles.
That became one of the biggest points of contention during the trial.
Why Jeep Avoided Even Bigger Penalties
Wu’s legal team also pushed for punitive damages.
That would have required jurors to determine that FCA acted with deliberate disregard for customer safety.
The jury declined to make that finding.
Jurors also concluded that Jeep had provided adequate warnings to owners regarding the vehicle.
That decision helped FCA avoid even larger financial penalties beyond compensatory damages.
FCA Has Yet To Comment
Attorneys representing Wu said the family felt relieved that the jury placed the majority of responsibility on the automaker rather than solely blaming the driver.
FCA has reportedly declined to comment on the verdict.
While the company avoided punitive damages, the lawsuit highlights how expensive safety failures can become, especially when an issue has allegedly been known for years.