A man won $1.9 million after a BMW’s “soft close” door accidentally severed part of his thumb, changing his life forever.
In a remarkable legal case, Godwin Boateng, a software engineer from Long Island, has been awarded $1.9 million in damages.
This followed a serious accident involving the “soft close” feature of his BMW X5.
This incident, which occurred in 2016, resulted in the loss of part of his right thumb.
It dramatically altered his life and daily activities.
The incident began when Boateng’s thumb became trapped in his BMW.
In 2016, a software engineer lost part of his right thumb when it became trapped in the motorized ‘soft close’ door of his BMW X5.
Despite his immediate rush to the hospital for medical assistance, doctors informed him that his thumb could not be saved.
“The doctor came in and looked at it and said, ‘I’m sorry.’
“He said he couldn’t. The way it got severed, it couldn’t be saved,” he recalled.
The severity of the injury led to a life-changing amputation that affected his ability to perform simple tasks, such as writing and using utensils.
Boateng’s claims highlight the significant impact of his injury.
Despite undergoing several surgeries, he continues to struggle with daily functions.
Eight years after the incident, Boateng continues to experience pain in the remaining part of his thumb.
He has undergone multiple surgeries to address the injury, but the discomfort persists.
The emotional and physical toll of this experience has been significant, as he has had to give up activities he once enjoyed, such as playing tennis.
The man had a long-lasting legal battle against BMW
Boateng’s journey through this ordeal was not just a physical challenge; it also involved a lengthy legal battle.
Initially, he turned down several settlement offers from BMW.
He believed the company should be held accountable for the malfunctioning door mechanism of their vehicle.
After eight years of tirelessly pursuing the lawsuit, Boateng has finally been awarded $1.9 million in damages.
He achieved this outcome after refusing earlier settlement offers from the car manufacturer.
His lawyer, Avi Cohen, expressed satisfaction with the jury’s decision.
The verdict acknowledged the extent of Boateng’s suffering and the impact of the resulting amputation.
“We’re very happy with the award.”
The court proceedings revealed that the man is not alone in his experience.
During a 2016 investigation, BMW acknowledged that there were 44 reported incidents involving injuries caused by their soft-close doors worldwide.
This statistic raises concerns about the safety of the “soft close” feature.
It is marketed as a convenience for both drivers and passengers.
Despite the jury’s decision to award Boateng damages, they did not find BMW liable for all of his claims.
Specifically, the jury dismissed allegations that the door design was inherently dangerous.
Instead, they placed full responsibility for the incident on the car manufacturer, stating that the mechanism’s failure led directly to Boateng’s injury.
Following the verdict, BMW’s legal team indicated that they might appeal the decision, asserting that the company stands by the safety of its products.
Phil Dilanni, a lawyer for BMW, emphasized that they do not believe the vehicle was at fault for Boateng’s injury.