Garry and Jewel Casteel v. Daimler Chrysler Corporation

Call Today Toll Free 877-307-9500 | Local Number 713-807-9500

Start Now

Interested in working with us? Call us on 713-807-9500 or fill out this quick form and we will contact you within 24 hours!

Practice Areas

Testimonials

Tony, I can't tell you what a blessing you and your team have been during the most tragic time in our lives. By taking over the responsibility of dealing with the hospital bills and insurance companies you've allowed me to focus on my duties as a father and husband.
My family and I just want to thank you for everything you have done and dedication in this car seat case.
I will always keep your professionalism in my heart! Thank you again Chad and Vanessa!
I went to a local lawyer to help my father and I after we were injured in an 18 Wheeler crash. That lawyer brought in another lawyer. Finally, Chad came on board and got our case resolved.
Read more of Craige's Opinion of His Attorney Chad Points
My scars will never go away, but at least I know Chad's hard work and knowledge of the law changed policy and resulted in a successful settlement for me. Thanks Chad!
Read More of Kelly T's Testimonial

Defective, Unsafe Autos

Posted on 1/24/2012CA company recalls insulated lunch box for poisonous freezer gel leak
Posted on 1/18/2012Ford Recall Announced for Certain 2001 F-650 Trucks for Steering Arm
Posted on 1/8/2012Novartis recalls bottles of Excedrin, Bufferin, NoDoz, and Gas-X
Posted on 12/28/2011Nissan recalls some U.S. 2011 & 2012 cars for weak engine connector bolts
Posted on 12/10/2011Ford Fusion & Mercury Milan Recall: Wheels Might Fall Off During Drive

DISCLAIMER: The above results are specific to the facts and legal circumstances of each of the above clients' cases and should not be used to form an expectation that the same results could be obtained for other clients in similar matters without reference to the specific factual and legal circumstances of each client’s case.

Garry and Jewel Casteel v. Daimler Chrysler Corporation

On January 22, 2003, Garry Casteel was the belted driver of a 1996 Dodge Caravan, traveling northbound in the 3900 block of Allen Genoa in Pasadena, Texas. His daughter was the belted front-seat passenger. As Casteel approached the stop-and-go traffic signal intersection of Allen Genoa and Fairmont, he had a green light to proceed northbound.

At that same time a Ford F-250, operated by an unidentified male, was traveling eastbound on Fairmont Parkway. The driver of the Ford disregarded the red light causing an accident between the two vehicles. Mr. Casteel attempted to avoid the accident by braking and steering to the right, but he was unable to do so. The entire front of his 1996 Dodge Caravan contacted the passenger side front and rear quarter panels of the Ford F-250 pickup. Casteel's air bag did not deploy, resulting in fractures to Casteel's C2 and C3 vertebrae.

The failure of the driver-side air bag to deploy produced severe, permanent, and disabling injuries. The passenger-side airbag deployed, as it was designed to do, preventing any severe, permanent, or disabling injuries to Casteel's daughter.

Casteel and his wife sued Daimler Chrysler alleging strict products liability and negligence claims, in that the front driver-side airbag of the Dodge Caravan was defectively designed, manufactured, assembled, marketed, and sold.

During his hospitalization, Casteel developed aspiration pneumonia which led to several hypoxic events.

During the course of the litigation, attorneys Tony Denena and Chad Points, discovered that the 1996 Dodge Caravan was the subject of Safety Recall B24, which dealt with the airbag system, and more specifically, the clockspring, which is a device used to maintain a continuous electrical circuit between the wiring harness and the driver's airbag module. Before the recall, the clockspring was the subject of multiple Technical Service Bulletins dating back as far as May, 2001. In this case the clockspring failed, resulting in the driver's side airbag's failure to deploy.

Mr. Denena and his partner Chad Points were able to reach a confidential settlement with Daimler Chrysler at mediation for Mr. and Mrs. Casteel.