Father Sues Ford Motor Company in Son’s Death

Danny S. Wellman, a father from Beckley, West Virginia, has sued Ford Motor Company and a local dealership, blaming them for the wrongful death of his son, Jarred Wellman in car accident in 2013.

On February 12, 2015, Danny, administrator for Jarred S. Wellman, filed a lawsuit in Wyoming Circuit Court against Ford Motor Company and Ramey Automotive Group Inc., doing business as Ramey Ford Lincoln of Beckley, alleging negligence and other violations. The complaint filed by Wellman states, “that Ramey sold a defective motor vehicle or an auto with defective parts to an auto shop, which in turn sold it to Danny and/or Amanda Wellman.”

The lawsuit is a result of the tragedy that occurred on March 4, 2013, when Jarred Wellman, Danny’s son, passed away in a fatal car accident. Two years ago on March 5, 2013, Jarred, age 22, was driving the vehicle, a Ford Explorer, Southbound on Interstate 77 near Ghent, W.Va.The State Police reported that for unknown reasons, Wellman’s vehicle went off the road onto the gravel, reentered the Southbound lanes, flipped, and landed on the driver’s side, which in return blocked both lanes of traffic. Jarred was pronounced dead on the scene. The State Police stated the accident under investigation, and said it as a one person death as a result of a “single vehicle rollover.”

According to the lawsuit, Jarred’s seatbelt was disengaged, the roof was crushed, and the driver’s window was shattered. The faults in the vehicle caused Jarred to be ejected onto the pavement. Ultimately, Jarred died of a fatal head injury. The law suit says the vehicle was not crash-worthy, and that Ford and Ramey should have been aware of its defects. Therefore, they are liable for damages caused by its manufacturing and design defects. Danny Wellman is represented by attorneys Patrick McFarland of Parkersburg, Christopher Heavens of Charleston, and Jaime Jackson of Atlee Hall in Lancaster, P.A. Danny Wellman seeks compensation for: sorrow and anguish; loss of income and services; medical and funeral expenses; attorney fees; and costs. The case has been assigned to Judge Warren McGraw.

Sources:

https://wvrecord.com/news/272939-father-sues-auto-companies-in-sons-death

https://woay.com/News.aspx?nid=6045