By admin on March 24, 2010
Safety Research & Strategies, Inc. reported on March 24, 2010 that Toyota has added 2008-2010 Highlander Hybrids to the list of vehicles included in its Safety Recall for potential floor mat interference with the gas pedal. According to the article, in announcing “Phase Four” of the Safety Recall, Toyota informed dealers that “the same templates and gauges provided to dealers for the Camry (Phase 1) will be utilized.” Every Highlander Hybrid automobile has a Denso pedal, which will be substituted with a new pedal that is supposed to be thinned-down and less stiff.
The article also discusses a sudden acceleration incident involving a 2008 Highlander Hybrid that took place in the Mojave Desert that appears to support the possibility that Toyota’s design defects go beyond floor mat obstruction. When the motorist in this incident accelerated to pass another car at about 75 mph, he was unable to press down the brakes and the Hybrid kept accelerating. Based on the driver’s account, he attempted to apply and let go of the gas pedal many times, but the Hybrid kept accelerating and reached speeds of up to 95 mph. Finally, after he pressed the brake pedal and emergency brake simultaneously, the car slowed down, but the engine continued to rev up. The driver’s wife then pushed the gear shift into park and their car came to a stop.
In initiating different “phases” of its Safety Recall, one is left to wonder how it is possible that Toyota has overlooked certain models having similar flaws to vehicles already recalled. Incidents of unintended acceleration and innocent people being hurt or even killed should not be what it takes for an automaker to detect a serious auto design flaw.
The list of Toyota vehicle models that are still awaiting a modified pedal and floor mat replacement include:
- 2009 – 2010 Corolla
- 2008 – 2010 Highlander (Non-Hybrid)
- 2009 – 2010 Matrix
- 2004 – 2009 Prius
- 2005 – 2010 Tacoma
- 2007 – 2010 Tundra
- 2009 – 2010 Venza
The Toyota sudden acceleration recall attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP are investigating incidents of unintended acceleration and auto accidents involving all Toyota & Lexus vehicle models, whether they have been recalled or not. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident concerning one of these affected vehicles, the skilled auto products liability and personal injury lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP are available to help. Visit our Toyota recall breaking news page at http://www.psandb.com/toyota-2010-recall-news.html for more information or call 877-800-1700 to schedule a free consultation regarding your potential claim.
Source:http://www.safetyresearch.net/2010/03/24/roll-out-the-recalls/
By admin on March 3, 2010
A recent CBS News article reports that the United States Transportation Department has released updated consumer complaints connecting 52 deaths to Toyota sudden acceleration dating back to incidents from the year 2000. The government had previously announced receiving allegations of 34 deaths due to unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles in incidents that had occurred over the last ten years. The updated figure on fatalities caused by Toyota acceleration issues was announced during a Senate hearing on March 2, 2010 regarding the immense 8.5 million Toyota models recalled.
As more and more people realize that sudden acceleration may be to blame for past Toyota auto accidents, we can expect the number of serious injuries and deaths to continue to rise. Meanwhile, in the latest development in this tragic soap opera, three Toyota executives and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood are scheduled to address a Senate panel, in what will be the third congressional hearing within a week’s time regarding the monumental recall.
As consumers, we expect the vehicles we purchase to be safe and free of defect that may potentially inflict harm. However, as the recent Toyota recalls demonstrate, auto manufacturers may rush the design and production of their vehicles, putting profits before the safety of those purchasing their products. As the death and injury toll continues to rise as more accident victims and family members reflect on the Toyota accidents that have seriously affected their lives, it is uncertain how many more catastrophic auto accidents involving recalled Toyota models are likely to be connected to acceleration problems.
The Toyota accelerator defect injury lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP will continue to monitor the latest in Toyota recall news as well as the outcome of government panels and investigation of consumer complaints. Our experienced auto product liability attorneys are currently handling cases for those injured in accidents involving recalled Toyota vehicles and are prepared to assist you if you or someone close to you suspects that a gas pedal defect caused an injury or fatal collision. For more information regarding your potential case and how Panish Shea & Boyle LLP may be able to help you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries or losses, please call 877-800-1700 or visit www.psandb.com to schedule a free consultation and evaluation.
Source:http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/02/business/main6258603.shtml
By admin on February 16, 2010
According to a Los Angeles Times article, a new federal safety regulation announcement reveals that at least 34 people have been killed within the last decade in Toyota auto accidents involving vehicles that allegedly accelerated out of control. Since the initial reports of 13 fatalities connected to the gas pedal issue were made public and the Toyota recall list was announced, the number of official motorist complaints’ filed has dramatically increased. These additional complaints of unintended acceleration have been pouring in to federal regulators and it is uncertain how many more incidents will be reported when all is said and done.
The new fatality report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) includes 13 deaths reported since January 27, 2010, which was the day after Toyota put a hold on the sale and production of eight of its auto models in the United States. This was done in order to fix gas pedals that the automaker said can stick and cause unintended acceleration. Most of the reported incidents of fatal acceleration took place between 2003 and 2009, according to an analysis of the data by The Times. In addition, The Times found that all but one of the fatalities reported to NHTSA by motorists in 2010 actually took place in previous years. Some incidents even go back as far as 1992.
The complaints filed with NHTSA display accounts of Toyota and Lexus vehicles suddenly accelerating forward, colliding with other vehicles, buildings and pedestrians. Federal regulators reported that 22 people have been injured from Toyota unintended acceleration accidents, with injuries ranging from bruises and lacerations to a woman who was left in a coma due to a crash. A spokeswoman for the NHTSA stated, “It is normal for NHTSA to receive an increase in consumer complaints after a recall is announced…The agency is quickly gathering more data on all of these additional complaints to help guide our examination of sudden acceleration…as well as other safety issues.”
Toyota has resumed sale and production of the eight models that were previously put on hold to fix the gas pedal issue. Dealers are in the process of installing shims on gas pedals to fix what is being called a defect that could make the accelerator pedal stick.
The experienced Toyota gas pedal recall attorneys at the reputed personal injury law firm of Panish Shea & Boyle LLP are currently representing severely injured people in unintended acceleration accidents involving Toyota and Lexus vehicles. If you or someone you care about has been injured in a car accident with one of the recalled Toyota autos, our skilled auto product liability lawyers can help. Call Panish Shea & Boyle LLP today at 800-591-8116 to schedule a free case evaluation.
Source:http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-toyota-deaths16-2010feb16,0,481821.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fmostviewed+%28L.A.+Times+-+Most+Viewed+Stories%29
By admin on January 28, 2010
After an ABC News’ report that discussed incidents of Toyota vehicles random acceleration, some of which involved wrongful deaths, the automaker has stopped sales of eight of its most popular models. Dealerships across the United States have been told to suspend sales of the following models:
- RAV4, Corolla, Matrix (2009-2010 Models)
- Avalon (2005-2010 Models)
- Highlander (2010 Model)
- Tundra (2007-2010 Models)
- Sequoia (2008-2010 Models)
- Camry (certain 2007-2010 Models)
The announcement of vehicle sales being stopped comes after ABC News told Toyota that they were about to broadcast the latest in a long series of investigative reports on the acceleration issue and resulting injuries and fatalities. Toyota recently announced a new recall on January 21, 2010 due to gas pedals sticking and being unrelated to floor mats in which some vehicles overlapped from the 2009 recall.
While Toyota investigates the problem with gas pedals becoming stuck, even without a floor mat being present, production has been halted at five different factories. According to an abcnews.go.com article, federal safety investigators have joined in the examination of the gas pedal mechanism to help find a solution to the unexplained and sudden accelerations taking place. Since last fall, when Toyota claimed to have fixed the acceleration problem with a recall of 4.2 million vehicles with supposedly defective floor mats, over 60 new cases of runaway cars have been reported. Although Toyota denied reports of possible electronic problems or on-board computer issues, the proposed redesign of the accelerator pedal did not stop the occurrence of runaway vehicles.
If you have been injured or if someone close to you has been wrongfully killed due to a runaway vehicle or acceleration problem, the skilled Toyota accelerator defect injury attorneys at Panish, Shea & Boyle, LLP can help. The auto product liability lawyers at Panish, Shea & Boyle, LLP have years of experience in personal injury and wrongful death litigation. Contact them today to learn more about your legal rights and options regarding defective auto parts. Call 1-800-591-8116 today to schedule a case evaluation.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/RunawayToyotas/toyota-recall-suspends-sales-models-accelerator-pedals-sticking/story?id=9669621
By admin on January 14, 2010
After several reports of Toyota vehicles undergoing unintended acceleration, and a resulting recall of practically four million autos, Toyota has announced that it will install brake override systems by the end of 2010 in all new Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles. According to a U.S. News & World Report article, starting this month in January, the Toyota Camry and Lexus ES350 will be the first models to receive the new brake override system.
AutoWeek reported that the new brake override software system will operate by shifting the engine to idle if it detects the driver is trying to apply the brakes without success. The new system will only work for new vehicles. This leaves existing vehicles affected by the Toyota accelerator recall to only have the option of replacing their floor mats and accelerator pedal with a reshaped one.
Although Toyota claims that these incidents were caused by defective floor mats becoming stuck under accelerator pedals, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has determined that the floor mats were not necessarily the only problem. Auto manufacturers have the responsibility of not only accurately designing vehicles, but also ensuring that automobiles are properly manufactured and placed on the market without any defective components that may inflict harm upon motorists or passengers.
At Panish, Shea, & Boyle, our experienced automotive defects attorneys understand the serious repercussions of defective auto parts and vehicle recalls. Although many auto recalls help protect consumers, a substantial amount of them occur only after innocent people have been hurt or killed because of the recalled product. If you or a loved one has been affected by these dangerous acceleration pedals or any other auto part defect, please call Panish, Shea & Boyle to find out how we can help. Call 800-591-8116 for a free consultation or visit our website www.psandb.com to learn about our many successful automotive defect settlements and verdicts.
