Family Sues General Motors for Father's Death Due to Corvette Door Locks

[Rob]

On June 9, 2015, we reported that James Rogers of Port Arthur, Texas and his beloved dog, passed away while locked inside his 2007 Corvette.

A battery cable was found to be loose on his 2007 Corvette and as a result, the electronic door release button wouldn't work to open the doors. As a result, Rogers and his dog passed away from heat stroke while being trapped in the car outside of a Waffle House.

According to KFDM of Southeast Texas this morning, Attorney B. Terrell and other attorneys filed a wrongful death and survival lawsuit last month against General Motors Corporation on behalf of Tricia Hernandez and Troy Rogers, the children of James Rogers. The lawsuit states there's a defect in the electric locking system, and if the battery dies, then drivers must use a switch under the driver's seat to get out of the car. It goes on to state that G.M. builds the Corvette in a defective manner and failed to properly make clear there is a manual override to get out if the battery dies. The suit is seeking damages for pain and suffering and other compensation.

General Motors has been building Corvette with electronic door locks since 2005. The door locks are not defective and there is a door release latch on the floor, next to the frame rail, in front of the seat on each side of the car. The door release levers are not located under the seats - even if the seats are moved all the way forward.

As per a 2008 Corvette Owner's Manual:

If power to the vehicle or the keyless access transmitter is lost, there are two ways to open the door.
From inside the vehicle, use the door release handle located on the floor next to each seat. Pull the handle up to unlock and unlatch the door.

While Mr. Roger's death was an unfortunate accident, General Motors should not be held liable for his death.

Every new automobile comes with an owner's manual. It's the owner's responsibility to read that manual. If you buy a used automobile that doesn't come with an owner's manual, you can easily purchase one online. Considering that the Corvette has always been one of the most technologically advanced automobiles on the road, you really should not own one without an owner's manual.

It should also be the responsibility of automobile sales personnel to show the customer all of the safety features of the car that is being purchased.

Click on the images below which were taken from a 2008 Corvette as well as a 2008 Corvette Owner's manual:

 

[koolaid117]

While this man and his dog's death are tragic, I agree that GM should not be held responsible.

 

[jrose7004]

Another good reason to read your owners manual cover to cover when you buy a car. GM should not be liable for an owner not taking reasonable care.

 

[timfitz63]

I agree that GM probably should not be held liable for this death.

But are you telling me that no one patronizing this Waffle House came to this guy's aid...?! That he couldn't get the attention of anyone who passed by his car the entire time up he was trapped inside his C6 in the Waffle House parking lot...?! That he couldn't even pop off the targa top or break a window when it became a life-and-death situation...?! It would have taken hours to die of heat stroke inside a closed-up car, especially with the relatively low temperatures we've been having throughout Texas of late...!

Something doesn't add up here... ;squint:

 

[kpic]

I agree that GM probably should not be held liable for this death.

But are you telling me that no one patronizing this Waffle House came to this guy's aid...?! That he couldn't get the attention of anyone who passed by his car the entire time up he was trapped inside his C6 in the Waffle House parking lot...?! That he couldn't even pop off the targa top or break a window when it became a life-and-death situation...?! It would have taken hours to die of heat stroke inside a closed-up car, especially with the relatively low temperatures we've been having throughout Texas of late...!

Something doesn't add up here... ;squint:

Ditto on all counts and something doesn't add up.

Put feet against side window and push could have worked also.

 

[timfitz63]

... Put feet against side window and push could have worked also.

Or for that matter, pull out cell phone and dial "9-1-1", if it's life-and-death serious. Was this the only guy in Texas without a cell phone...?

 

[kpic]

Or for that matter, pull out cell phone and dial "9-1-1", if it's life-and-death serious. Was this the only guy in Texas without a cell phone...?

I'm not making light of someone dying. I understand a lot of people don't read the manual. It is so common, there is an acronym about reading the * manual.

That being said there is a whole bunch of "stuff" about this that doesn't make any sense.

 

[timfitz63]

I'm not making light of someone dying. I understand a lot of people don't read the manual. It is so common, there is an acronym about reading the * manual.

That being said there is a whole bunch of "stuff" about this that doesn't make any sense.

Not trying to be flippant where someone's death is concerned either; just thinking through the things I'd be doing if I was in the same situation...

 

[jrose7004]

I'm not making light of someone dying. I understand a lot of people don't read the manual. It is so common, there is an acronym about reading the * manual.

That being said there is a whole bunch of "stuff" about this that doesn't make any sense.

You mean "Read Your FINE Manual"?

 

[kpic]

You mean "Read Your FINE Manual"?

That was much improved over the original version.

 

[Mac]

You mean "Read Your FINE Manual"?

Since Canada has two official languages, I always thought it meant "Read The French Manual"!

Mac

 

[timfitz63]

Since Canada has two official languages, I always thought it meant "Read The French Manual"!

:L Oh, so that's how the phrase "Pardon my French" originated...!