A man has been awarded $1.9 million in damages after part of his thumb was severed by the ‘soft close’ door of his BMW.
Godwin Boateng, a software engineer from Long Island, suffered the injury in 2016 while using his BMW X5. His thumb got caught in the motorized door, which partially severed it. He rushed to the hospital hoping for a solution, but doctors couldn’t save the severed part.
Recalling the incident, Boateng told The New York Post in 2018: “The doctor came in and looked at it and said, ‘I’m sorry.’ The way it got severed, it couldn’t be saved.”
Eight years later, Boateng has finally received justice. He rejected earlier settlement offers and pursued his case in court, which resulted in the jury awarding him damages for his “life-changing” amputation.
His lawyer, Avi Cohen, expressed relief after the verdict, saying: “We’re very happy with the award.”
The court heard how the injury significantly impacted Boateng’s life. He had to give up playing tennis, one of his favorite pastimes, and struggles with everyday tasks like writing, using utensils, and typing. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, he still experiences pain and often uses a prosthetic thumb bought from a magician kit.
BMW admitted during the trial that there had been 44 similar injury incidents globally related to their soft-close doors. However, the jury cleared the company of three other claims, including accusations that the door’s design was dangerous.
BMW’s legal team argued that Boateng was partially responsible for the accident, but the jury rejected this claim, placing full blame on the company.
Phil Dilanni, a lawyer for BMW, responded to the verdict by stating that the company “stands by our products” and may appeal if necessary.
Boateng’s case highlights the risks associated with motorized doors and the lasting effects such injuries can have on daily life.
