Baumgardner v. American Motors Corp.

Here we meet for the first time the question of whether the manufacturer of an automobile involved in a collision is liable for injuries caused or enhanced because of a defect in design or manufacture, even though the defect did not cause or contribute to the collision itself. The issue has been characterized as that of the “enhanced injury” or “second accident”.

Plaintiff husband, individually and in his representative capacity for his deceased wife’s estate, sued the defendant manufacturer, American Motors Corporation, and also the owner and the driver of the car which collided with…