Earlier this month, comedian Kevin Hart was involved in a serious car crash as a passenger in his customized 1970 Plymouth Barracuda. A total of three people, including Hart, were in the Hellcat-powered restomod muscle car when it rolled off Mulholland Drive and went down an embankment in the middle of the night. The car was totaled, and its roof completely crushed. All three passengers suffered injuries but none are life-threatening. However, this isn't stopping Hart's two passengers from lawyering up.
According to TMZ, sources with knowledge of the incident claim the driver, identified as 28-year old Jared Black, has gotten himself a lawyer as he intends to sue Hart because his car did not have proper safety features such as safety harnesses or airbags. Hart has also hired a lawyer. Given that the Barracuda has over 700 horsepower, such safety features should have been there to begin with. The fact that Hart did not request those features constitutes negligence.
The backseat passenger is also reportedly preparing to sue Hart, but their injuries were less severe. Both Hart and Black suffered neck and back injuries. The California Highway Patrol is still investigating the incident and it's likely any lawsuits won't be filed until the final report comes in. Aside from suing Hart because he didn't know how to properly handle his car, Black and the unnamed rear seat passenger may also have another entity to sue: SpeedKore, the custom car company that built the Barracuda.
As we previously reported, this could potentially set an industry-wide precedent in that custom car companies may soon be obligated to equip their vehicles with specific safety features, such as airbags, whether their customers want them or not.
Interestingly, TMZ's source further claims the California Highway Patrol may lobby the state legislature to prohibit custom car companies from selling vehicles without certain basic safety equipment. Given that California is known for enacting progressive legislation, don't be surprised if Kevin Hart's Barracuda crash will set a new legal precedent.