GM Facing Wrongful Death Suit Over Faulty Fuel System Claim
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General Motors is facing a wrongful death lawsuit in West Virginia over a claim that one of its vehicles had a fuel system that was not crashworthy.
According to the West Virginia Record, Tracie Dilliner of Mineral Wells, WV, filed a complaint against GM in U.S. District Court this week accusing the automaker of strict liability, negligence and wrongful death in the fatal accident that killed Logan James Dilliner.
Dilliner died on August 30, 2017 when the 2004 GMC Sierra he was driving rear-ended a tractor trailer on Interstate 77, rolled and caught on fire. The official complaint states the truck’s fuel straps failed and allowed the tank to come loose, causing the vehicle to become engulfed in flames.
The West Virginia Record reports the plaintiff is seeking “all reasonable sums due, attorney fees and court costs,” from GM.
Wood County Sheriff’s Sgt. B.A. Pickens said he believed Dilliner either fell asleep at the wheel or misjudged the rate at which he was approaching the tractor trailer, according to a local media report from shortly after the crash. The fire melted the truck’s license plate and VIN tag, making it difficult for police to ID Dilliner at first, the article also indicates.
It does not appear as though a similar such complaint about the 2004 GMC Sierra has been lodged in the United States in the past. While recalls for fuel tank strap corrosion have been issued for certain non-GM vehicles before, this complaint appears to be related to the fuel system’s design, not its ability to resist against rusting or its long-term durability.
Source: West Virginia Record
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“Dilliner died on August 30, 2017 when the 2004 GMC Sierra he was driving rear-ended a tractor trailer on Interstate 77, rolled and caught on fire. The official complaint states the truck’s fuel straps failed and allowed the tank to come loose, causing the vehicle to become engulfed in flames.”
While tragic, this simply sounds like physics at work. This is not a vehicle flaw.
No different than the Jeep Cherokee “recall” a few years back where the vehicle had passed all safety requirements when released, was hit by a semi truck going 70 mph, while they were stopped, and the vehicle became engulfed in flames.
They’re only going after the automaker, rather than the semi driver who is clearly at fault, because they have deeper pockets.
Elon is right. The guy driving the GMC pickup rear ended the tractor trailer. Clearly the pickup drivers fault, period.
Just another case of someone trying to put the blame on someone else when it was clearly their fault. Just wanting $$ pathetic.
The speed there is 70 MPH and most drive over that. I travel that area regularly.
You rear end a semi at 70 MPH or more and rolled over then burned you should expect a good possibility of fire.
This is just another case where the lawyer is looking not to win but to get a GM to settle as it is cheaper to settle vs fight these law suits.
The sad part this is just one of many similar law suits that GM has to deal with every year. It is just legal extortion.
These lawsuits need to stop!!! People need to start acting like adults and accept responsibility for their actions.
GM is not at fault!!!
This family is pathetic