Burned Crash Survivor Rejects Auto Companies’ Attempts To Dismiss Her Claims

Counsel for a Western Pennsylvania woman who suffered third-degree burns over 70% of her body in a motor vehicle crash over two years ago, has refuted denials of liability from two of the defendants named in the subsequent litigation.

Payton Renee Balogh of Homer City first filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on Sept. 20 versus Mazda Motor Corporation of Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda Motor of America, Inc. in Irvine, Calif., Starter Cars in Altoona and Sutliff Auto Group of Harrisburg.

‘On Oct. 20, 2020, at approximately 9:37 p.m., the plaintiff was the seat-belted driver of a 2010 Mazda 3. She was driving westerly on Airport Road near Geesey Road in White Township, when she was caused to lose steering control and left the roadway.

The Mazda traversed a grassy area and struck a partly buried concrete stanchion causing damage to the Mazda, including some undercarriage components, and then the vehicle rolled over onto its passenger side.

A fire erupted, spreading smoke and fire into the occupant section, where the plaintiff was trapped. Before anyone could come to her rescue, Balogh was catastrophically burned over most of her body,’ the suit said.