Ford Keyless Ignition Lawsuit: Carbon Monoxide Wrongful Death Case
Understanding Keyless Ignition Car Dangers and Fatalities
The Fontanini Family's Tragic Case and Legal Action
The heartbreaking case of Rina and Pasquale Fontanini represents one of the most severe examples of keyless ignition car dangers. This elderly couple tragically lost their lives to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning after their 2013 Lincoln MKS was inadvertently left running in their attached garage. Their son, a Highland Park fire department lieutenant, discovered them, highlighting how this automotive safety defect can claim even the most vigilant lives.
This incident sparked a significant product liability lawsuit against Ford, alleging the company was aware of the design flaw for years. The lawsuit claims Ford failed to implement a simple automatic shut-off feature that could have prevented these carbon monoxide wrongful death tragedies. Our legal team is committed to holding manufacturers accountable for such preventable fatalities and fighting for justice for affected families.
Chicago’s NBC 5 and Fox 32 News featured exclusive reports regarding the death of Rina and Pasquale Fontanini, a couple who passed away in their home due to carbon monoxide poisoning derived from their 2013 Lincoln MKS with keyless ignition.
According to the police report, Pasquale discovered that the family car was left running inside the garage. He then opened the garage door and shut off the engine. Unfortunately, in an attempt to save his wife (Rina), who was upstairs in their bedroom, he succumbed to the fumes. Their son, Caesar, who is also the Highland Park fire department lieutenant, found them dead inside their home.
With the legal assistance of Attorney Ted McNabola, the family of the elderly couple filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Ford, claiming that the company knew about the potential dangers of vehicles equipped with keyless ignitions that are accidentally left running and did nothing about them. According to the claim, Ford and the auto industry have been aware of the design flaw for years and have installed a fix on some, but not all, of its models.
Although this is the first lawsuit against Ford, at least 10 other automobile manufacturers have been sued over the keyless entry problem. Safety experts state that the issue has caused 15 fatalities throughout the United States.
For more information about the dangers of keyless ignitions, contact McNabola & Associates, LLC today.