by Court Verdict and Compensation
A jury ruled in favor of Godwin Boateng, who received nearly $2 million in compensation for an injury caused by the soft-close door mechanism of his BMW X5. The total payout includes $800,000 for past suffering and $850,000 for future consequences of the injury. The car owner claimed that the soft-close door system poses a serious safety hazard.
BMW Case and Legal Proceedings
The automaker BMW failed to overturn the court decision that obligates the company to pay $1.9 million in compensation to a man whose finger was partially amputated by the soft-close door mechanism of an X5 model. The case, which lasted nearly ten years, has finally reached its conclusion, and the automaker is forced to comply with the court’s ruling after years of legal battles.
BMW Owner Awarded $1.9 Million After Soft-Close Door Snips Thumb
The German automaker must pay the funds, despite its arguments that everyone should understand the danger of placing a hand in the path of closing doors.
Incident Circumstances
The incident occurred in July 2016 when New York resident Godwin Boateng lost the tip of his right thumb. He was leaning his hand on the door frame of his BMW X5 xDrive35i Sport when the door, which was open about 30 centimeters, began to close. The soft-close mechanism engaged and severed the top part of his finger.
After inspecting the vehicle, BMW stated that the soft-close door mechanism had no defects, and the company refused to accept responsibility for the inflicted injury. However, Boateng filed a lawsuit, claiming that due to the loss of his fingertip, he could lose up to $3 million in earnings.
In mid-2024, the case went to trial, and the jury ruled to award the X5 owner compensation of $1.9 million. This amount included $800,000 for past suffering, $850,000 for future consequences of the injury, and approximately $255,000 for lost income.
Boateng claimed in the lawsuit that the BMW soft-close door system is dangerous because, unlike side windows, it does not use sensors to detect obstacles.
BMW’s Attempts to Appeal the Decision
BMW sought a new trial after the verdict, but the district court rejected this move. The automaker appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, hoping to overturn the decision, but this attempt also proved unsuccessful.
The Court of Appeals upheld the jury’s decision and refused to review the case, ruling that BMW had committed “fraudulent concealment” of information by failing to warn customers about the risk of placing a hand in the path of the closing doors.
This case could have significant implications for automakers, particularly regarding the improvement of safety systems in premium-class vehicles. The BMW X5 door incident highlights the importance of considering potential risks associated with modern technologies and the need for clear warnings to users. Similar cases may encourage manufacturers to implement additional protective measures, such as sensors that prevent injuries.
