Wife Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Chrysler for Husband's Death

Chrissie Cole

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A widow has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Chrysler Corporation claiming the company failed to provide adequate protection, ultimately leading to her husband's death.

Robert Leaks was driving his Dodge pickup truck when he lost control and slammed into a tree, killing him. The family claims the dangerous 2006 Dodge Laramie pickup "was not reasonably fit for unintended, but clearly foreseeable, accidents."

The widow, individually and as estate representative, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Chrysler Corporation, in the Marshall Division, of the Eastern District of Texas.

Leaks claims her husband's death is due to the vehicle's failure to maintain survival space and not providing adequate restraint with "side airbags, side head curtains or any side impact SRS." Moreover, the lawsuit asserts Chrysler is liable through its failure to use "technology to minimize loss of structural integrity" and failure to conduct side impact and pole impact side testing.

On behalf of the deceased, the lawsuit seeks damages for medical, funeral, and burial expenses, physical pain, torment, mental anguish, emotional pain, and distress. The Leaks' estate is seeking damages for mental anguish, loss of care, maintenance, support, services, advice, counsel, companionship, society, and consortium and contributions of a pecuniary value.

While Chrysler does admit its vehicles may be involved in accidents, they deny further allegations made by the family. Chrysler states that at the time of the trucks manufacture it was in full compliance with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.