A tragic incident occurred when Destiny Byassee, a young mother from Florida, was killed in a car accident when her car’s counterfeit airbag exploded like a grenade, causing fatal injuries. Byassee had purchased a used 2020 Chevy Malibu from DriveTime, a national used car company, without being provided with a full history of the car. The vehicle had been involved in a previous crash in September 2022 that caused significant damage and should have been classified as a total loss. Instead of scrapping the vehicle, Enterprise allegedly sold it to DriveTime through Manheim Auctions, Inc., where it was repaired at Jumbo Automotive in Hollywood, Florida with counterfeit and non-compliant airbag components.
The lawsuit filed by Byassee’s family alleges that the car’s airbag system was replaced with counterfeit components from a Chinese company by the shop owner, Haim Levy, at Jumbo Automotive. Additionally, the seatbelt pretensioner in the vehicle was repaired incorrectly, making it appear as if it were functioning properly. Both the fake airbags and faulty seatbelt pretensioner were supposed to deploy during the fatal collision, but due to the incorrect repairs, the airbag exploded, sending metal and plastic shrapnel throughout the car. Byassee was struck by the fragments, leading to her death. The lawsuit highlights the lack of transparency and negligence in the repair process that resulted in the tragic outcome.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Byassee’s two young children, husband, and mother by her grandmother, Cathy King. Byassee believed she was purchasing a safe and reliable vehicle, but the lawsuit claims that multiple automotive companies were involved in repairing the car improperly to avoid it being classified as a total loss. This negligence ultimately led to Byassee’s death and her children growing up without their mother. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial on various counts, including strict liability, negligence, and deceptive trade practices against the defendants, including Enterprise, Manheim, DriveTime, and Jumbo Automotive. None of the defendants had responded to requests for comment at the time of the report.
The tragic death of Destiny Byassee in this counterfeit airbag incident sheds light on the dangers of improper and illegal repairs in vehicles. Byassee’s family is seeking justice for her death through the lawsuit filed against the companies involved in the sale and repair of the Chevy Malibu. The lawsuit aims to hold the defendants accountable for their negligence and deceptive practices that resulted in Byassee’s untimely death. The case highlights the importance of transparency and proper repairs in the automotive industry to ensure the safety of consumers on the road. Byassee’s story serves as a reminder of the potential risks posed by counterfeit car parts and the need for stricter regulations to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Attorney John Morgan, representing Byassee’s family, emphasized the impact of Byassee’s death on her young children and family, highlighting the devastating consequences of the faulty repairs and counterfeit airbags in the vehicle. The lawsuit aims to bring justice to Byassee’s family and prevent similar incidents from happening to other unsuspecting consumers. Byassee’s family is seeking accountability for the companies involved in the chain of events that led to her death, advocating for safer practices in the automotive industry to protect consumers from the dangers of counterfeit parts and improper repairs. The lawsuit serves as a call to action for stricter regulations and oversight in the handling and repair of vehicles to prevent tragedies like Byassee’s death from occurring in the future.
