Sudden Acceleration Accidents
Toyota Recall: Toyota Acceleration Problem and Lawsuit
Toyota and Lexus Sudden Acceleration
In the fall of 2009, news spread that California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor and his family died in a crash after a 2009 Lexus ES 350 that he was driving accelerated out of control. This incident shocked and alarmed the American public, sparking investigations into the extent of unintended acceleration accidents, what Toyota knew, and when they knew it.
Today, Lieff Cabraser represents persons across America severely injured, and families of loved ones who died, when their Toyota and Lexus vehicles suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated out of control, and crashed.
Toyota’s Failure to Acknowledge its Acceleration Problem
From 2002 to 2010, Toyota continuously denied any problems with the throttle control systems on its vehicles despite several government investigations of safety issues with its vehicles. As noted in the New York Times, “At almost every step that lead to its current predicament, Toyota underestimated the severity of the sudden-acceleration problem affecting its most popular cars. It has veered from discounting early reports of problems to overconfidently announcing diagnoses and insufficient fixes.”
Subsequently a Congressional probe uncovered that Toyota had received more than 37,900 reports from customers describing unintended acceleration, surging and/or speed control problems across many models and years.
Toyota Problem of Sudden Acceleration Explained and Why Toyota is Responsible for Sudden Acceleration Accidents
Since 2002, the throttle system in most Toyota vehicles, including cars that Toyota has not recalled, relies on sensors, microprocessors and electronic motors instead of a mechanical linkage, such as A steel cable, to connect the accelerator pedal to the engine throttle plate.
In lawsuits filed by Lieff Cabraser’s clients, complaints allege that Toyota’s electronic throttle control system contains design defects that cause sudden and uncontrolled acceleration to speeds of up to 100 miles per hour or more. Toyota knew of numerous complaints of sudden, unintended acceleration, and knew that such vehicles posed a significant risk of injury and death to vehicle occupants, other motorists, and pedestrians.
Equally significant, Toyota vehicles produced prior to 2010 were not equipped with a brake override system — known as “brake-to-idle override” — to prevent unintended acceleration. Brake-to-idle override enables drivers to override the electronic throttle and control the vehicle in the event of a sudden unintended acceleration. This safety feature is used by other automobile manufacturers.
Toyota’s failure to incorporate a brake override system played a direct role in the deaths and injuries of scores of persons across America, the complaints allege.
Toyota Sudden Acceleration Lawsuit Update
Elizabeth J. Cabraser serves as Co-Lead Counsel for the plaintiffs in the Toyota injury cases in federal court and our firm represents individuals and families of loved ones nationwide who died in Toyota sudden acceleration accidents.
On December 9, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge James V. Selna denied Toyota’s motion to dismiss the lawsuits. Discovery remains ongoing and cases are being selected and prepared for trial.
Toyota Recall Attorneys | Lawyers
Persons injured in accidents involving Toyota and Lexus vehicles that suddenly accelerated who would like to learn more about their legal rights are welcome to contact an auto injury attorney at Lieff Cabraser for a free, no-obligation review of your case.
You may also call us toll-free at 1-800-541-7358 and ask to speak to attorney Todd Walburg. There is no charge or obligation for our review of your case.
