Illinois woman paralyzed in Jeep rollover accident sues DaimlerChrysler, local dealer

By Jim Greene

Published on April 13, 2006

In a suit filed in Madison County, Angel Koch claims DaimlerChrysler distributed and Auto Mart of Mt. Vernon sold the 2001 Jeep Cherokee in which she was injured knowing that the vehicle's design was unstable and that the roof could collapse in an accident. The suit also says the vehicle did not contain adequate warnings about how to use a sport utility vehicle in a way that would avoid rollovers.

Koch claims the April 12, 2004 accident caused pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, loss of earnings and the inability to earn in the future. The suit also claims that Koch has been left with hospital bills and that she will need to have continued medical and nursing care. Her suit says there is medical probability that her injuries are permanent.

The suit, assigned to Circuit Judge Lola Maddox, claims that DaimlerChrysler failed in its responsibility to design and distribute a safe vehicle and that Auto Mart was aware that the design was flawed and that there had been previous rollover accidents. The dealer is accused of failing in its responsibility to sell a safe product and to inform buyers of potential safety risks.

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