The Ford Explorer has been the target of hundreds of product liability lawsuits, but Ford Motor Co. successfully has defended the popular sport utility vehicle in 10 consecutive jury trials. In the past month alone, Ford has prevailed in three Explorer cases seeking millions of dollars in damages.
         Explorer safety became a national issue in 2000 with the Firestone tire controversy. More than 200 deaths and 700 injuries in the United States were blamed on Ford Explorers rolling over after the tread separated on Firestone tires.
         Firestone claimed the design of the Explorer played a role in the accidents. In 2002, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cleared the Explorer after it found the vehicle no more rollover-prone than other SUVs.
         Even so, the number of lawsuits exploded during the controversy. Ford won't disclose how many lawsuits it has been forced to defend because of defect allegations leveled against the Explorer, the best-selling sport utility vehicle in automotive history. Nor will the automaker reveal how many cases have been settled out of court. The settlements have cost Ford millions of dollars.
         Donna Bailey, 44, suffered a spinal cord injury that paralyzed her from the neck down after the two-door Ford Explorer in which she was riding crashed on March 10, 2000, near Poth, Texas. The terms were not disclosed, but published reports estimate that Bailey received $20 million to $35 million.

Note: To learn more about SUV safety issues and our representation of persons injured in SUV rollover accidents, please visit vehicle-injuries.com.