Hidalgo County jury awards $61 million in products liability case against Honda

The Carlson Law Firm helps grieving family recover millions after tragedy

KILLEEN, Texas, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A Hidalgo County jury awarded $61 million to the family of two victims killed when a 2012 Honda Odyssey caught fire after a rear-end crash, finding that a defective vehicle design turned a collision into a tragedy.

The March 2021 crash occurred when a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse struck the Odyssey at high speed. The Odyssey, built in Alabama but sold only in Mexico, was not certified under U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Video evidence showed gasoline vapors leaking from a crushed fuel tank and igniting flames that spread into the passenger compartment. First responders managed to pull the driver and her young children from the vehicle, but two family members remained trapped inside. One could not be revived, and the other later died at Brooke Army Medical Center after suffering severe burns.

Attorneys Brantley White and Philip Koelsch argued that Honda failed to design the vehicle with adequate clearance between the rear subframe and fuel tank, used insufficient steel in the rear structure, and did not incorporate a flexible filler tube. Federal standards are meant to prevent exactly this outcome: that a survivable crash should not escalate into a fatal fire.

"This verdict is about accountability and about families who trusted that their vehicle would keep them safe," said Brantley White, trial attorney with White & Carlson and Of Counsel to The Carlson Law Firm. "No one should lose loved ones because a manufacturer cut corners in safety design. The jury recognized that truth."

Craig Carlson, Managing Partner of The Carlson Law Firm, said the outcome reflected both the law and the human cost. 

"This was a devastating loss for a family who did nothing wrong," Carlson said. "We are proud that our team stood with them and fought to make sure their voices were heard. A verdict like this sends a message that corporations must put safety ahead of profit."

Jurors deliberated for a day and a half following an eight-and-a-half-day trial before returning the $61 million verdict.

About The Carlson Law Firm

The Carlson Law Firm is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm dedicated to delivering compassionate, client-focused legal representation. With two convenient San Antonio locations, our personal injury attorneys are known for achieving record-breaking results. We handle cases involving auto and trucking accidents, workplace injuries, defective products, dangerous drugs, birth injuries, wrongful death and more. Our team is committed to securing justice and meaningful recovery for individuals and families impacted by negligence and injustice.

About White & Carlson

White & Carlson, the Corpus Christi office of The Carlson Law Firm, represents clients nationwide in complex personal injury cases. Led by attorneys Brantley White and Craig Carlson, the office combines decades of trial experience with the resources of a national firm to fight for individuals and families harmed by catastrophic accidents, defective products, corporate negligence and wrongful deaths.

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SOURCE The Carlson Law Firm