A South Texas court ordered Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, the largest US tyremaker, to pay $36.9m to the family of a man, who died from injuries in a traffic accident caused by tyre damage. Goodyear must pay $14m to the estate of Paul Rios of Hebbronville, Texas, who died in April 2001 from his injuries, the jury said.

The court also awarded $8m to Mr Rios's widow, $4m each to his three daughters, $2.5m to his father and about $400,000 in medical expenses. The tyre involved in the accident was 9 years old and had four visible signs of repairs, including one done improperly, when it was bought, not long before the accident, according to Goodyear.

"Goodyear will vigorously appeal [against] this outrageous decision," the company said. "This tyre should never have been put in service." The verdict comes as Ford Motor Company and Bridgestone are being sued for millions of dollars for allegedly contributing to the deaths of 271 people in accidents the plaintiffs claim were caused in part by defective tyres.