Nissan reaches $1.5M settlement over Versa fatal accident

Lawyers argued that side-curtain airbags would have prevented fatal injuries.

Nissan has reportedly reached a $1.5 million settlement with the family of a high school senior who was killed while driving a Versa.

The 2017 accident occurred in South Carolina when an oncoming car crossed the center line and struck the 2016 Versa head-on, causing it to roll over and ejecting the victim.

Lawyers representing the girl's estate argue that she may not have sustained fatal injuries if the 2016 Versa had been equipped with side-curtain airbags, now a standard feature in the latest model years, according to a report in The State.

Nissan's attorney informed the judge that the automaker would have countered that the Versa was compliant with all vehicle safety regulations of the time, which did not mandate side airbags. The settlement avoids any need to raise the debate in trial, however.

Settlements are typically kept confidential, as attorneys on both sides requested in this case, however The State points out that South Carolina typically keep the terms public in wrongful death cases that are considered important to the public.