Blog Post

Tucson Border Patrol Agent's Family Files Lawsuit in Rollover Accident


May 07, 2008
Topic: Vehicle Rollovers

As a Border Patrol Agent, David Web was entrusted with a duty that called for great valor - protecting our country and its best interests. Too bad that same level of care and commitment wasn't paid to his life. The 36-year-old was killed in a rollover accident on November 3, 2006 while on duty, his family has now field a wrongful death lawsuit that names GM, the tire maker that manufactured his tires at the time of the rollover accident, and others for unspecified damages.

Webb was driving his agency-issued 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe that evening on State Route 86 close to Why, Arizona. The tread on the SUV'S tire separated from the tire, and Webb lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle slid and rolled over. The roof crushed instantaneously, and Webb died at the scene. He was wearing a seat belt at the time of the rollover accident. There were no others in the vehicle with him. The reason for death was cited as massive head injuries.

Now his family has filed a lawsuit that blames GM and tire maker Continental Tire North America, the company that manufactured the defective tire.

Other companies named in the rollover accident suit are Ironwood Towing Services of Gila Bend, Brim Towing of Ajo, and its owner Ralph Bustamante, and Brown and Brown Chevrolet of Mesa.

GM has been named for failing to make the roofs of their SUV safer, which could have prevented loss of life in the event of rollover accidents. It's also been cited for failing to put safe products out in the market, and failing to warn consumers that their products were defective. Continental Tire North America has been cited for failing to spend the measly $1 it would have taken per car to use a special cap that would prevent the tread from separating from the tire, thus avoiding rollover accidents.

The lawsuit claimed that both companies had also ignored the warning signs of the danger of the tread separating from the steel belt in SUV tires. Gross negligence has been cited against the two companies. The tires were manufactured by a plant that has been plagued by problems since the nineties, and had only last year been shut down. The vehicle that he was driving at the time of the rollover accident has been cited as unstable and prone to a roof crush.

The other companies on the list have been cited for failing to service, maintain, and inspect the SUV properly.

As a border patrol employee who faced danger and the prospect of death everyday, Webb deserved to have more care taken into his well being. It's sad that a person who puts his country before self or family as selflessly as these border patrol agents do has no one to look out for their own safety. Chevrolet needs to answer as to why a man driving one of their cars, with a seat belt on, and with no evidence of speeding, had absolutely no protection when their vehicle rolled over. Continental Tires also holds responsibility for ignoring warnings of tread separation in their tires.

If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in a rollover accident, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury attorney. Contact a lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.


The California personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group represent victims of accidents, injuries and wrongful death throughout California from our offices in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Fresno County, Kern County, Sacramento County, San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Antelope Valley, Torrance, Glendale, Bakersfield, Santa Ana, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Ontario, and Victorville.