German car giant BMW has been ordered to pay US$1.9 million (A$2.82 million) in damages to a US customer whose thumb was severed by his X5’s soft-close doors.
The New York Post reports in 2016, software engineer Godwin Boateng was resting his right hand on the edge of the BMW X5’s driver’s door before it had fully closed.
However, the car’s soft-close doors – which use motors to complete the final latching movement – quickly shut, severing the tip of his right thumb, which was unable to be reattached when he attended a hospital.
Unlike many soft-close windows, which incorporate sensors to stop them from closing on body parts left in the opening, the BMW’s doors don’t stop closing if something is obstructing its path.
Mr Boateng has reportedly since undergone several surgeries to try and reduce the sensitivity which his thumb now experiences, though this hasn’t caused any changes. His lawyer also claims he can no longer work as a software engineer due to the pain.
While Carscoops reports BMW has insisted there was no fault with the X5’s soft-close door, a Long Island jury found the carmaker was to blame for Mr Boateng’s injury, announcing he would be awarded US$1.9 million (A$2.82 million) in damages.
It’s understood Mr Boateng’s lawyer, Avi Cohen, is currently engaged in multiple lawsuits against BMW due to alleged faults with its soft-close doors which have caused injuries.
Mr Boateng continues to own the BMW X5 which severed his thumb.
