Facts
- A Ford Pinto burst into flames when another car crashed into the back of it after it stalled on a freeway
- The passenger, Mr Grimshaw, suffered severe injuries
- Evidence showed that Ford knew that this was a defect in the car during its design, but decided that it was cost prohibitive to rectify the issue
Issue
- Should risk-benefit analyses be used when there is a potential for severe injury to people?
Decision
- No, therefore Ford would be liable to compensate Grimshaw
Reasoning
- Tort law tries to deter wrongs
- Ford had calculated how many deaths/serious injuries could be compensated for to still turn a profit without making alterations to the design of the car to make it safer; this had to be rectified by the court
