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Toyota Slapped With Class Action Lawsuit Over Sudden Acceleration Problems
You knew it was only a matter of time.
In response to the floor mat scandal that’s been slowly gaining steam at the Toyota camp, a group of enterprising ambulance chasers from the California-based law firm of McCuneWright, LLP have filed a class action lawsuit against the Japanese automaker. Spearheading the lawsuit are LA residents and Toyota owners Seong Bae Choi (2004 Camry) and Chris Chan Park (2008 FJ Cruiser) who claim they, along with thousands of other Toyota/Lexus owners, have experienced multiple instances of sudden acceleration.
While it would be convenient to dismiss the lawsuit as opportunistic and the representing firm as precisely what has attributed to America’s embarrassing, “victimized” reputation, the raw data certainly paints a very grim picture. Toyota has maintained that the problem is due to improperly secured floor mats, but the NHTSA has reported that a total of 16 fatalities and 243 injuries have been confirmed as a direct result of sudden unintentional acceleration in Toyota vehicles, which seems more serious than an interior accessory flaw.
“For years, Toyota Motor Corporation has dismissed complaints of sudden acceleration as being the driver’s fault,” said McCuneWright attorney, David Wright. “But neither driver error nor floor mats can explain away many other frightening instances of runaway Toyotas. Until the company acknowledges the real problem and fixes it, we worry that other preventable injuries and deaths will occur.” Continued Wright, “We think this lawsuit is necessary to save lives. Along with other individual lawsuits, the press, consumer groups, and the government, it is our goal to force Toyota to make these changes.”
Source: PR Newswire
Related Articles:
- Toyota Backpedals Furiously, Recalls 3.8M Vehicles For Faulty Accelerators
- Toyota Knew About Prius Braking Problems
- Toyota says it’s a friction problem, or is it something else???
If I had a Toyota, I’d speed everywhere. If pulled over, I would just say it’s “unintentional acceleration” and show the cop this lawsuit. Then I would take my ticket and speed off…unintentionally, of course.
I don’t own a Toyota, though.
Words by Dustin May on November 9, 2009 at 12:00 pm | #
How could Toyota/Lexus not include this simple safety override into their “drive-by-wire” system (when the Germans certainly did)…..?! And how could any such system be officially approved and certified without it by any manufacturer?
Smart Gas Pedals May Solve Floor-Mat Problem
By Christopher Jensen October 7, 2000
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/07/smart-gas-pedals-may-solve-floor-mat-problem/
(excerpts): Some automakers – primarily European — are using an unusual method to reduce the chances of unintended acceleration from something like a floor mat getting tangled up with the accelerator: smart gas pedals.
If the vehicle is moving and both the gas and brake pedal are being pushed at the same time the computer tells the engine to ignore the gas pedal.
“It is an additional safety feature,” said Thomas Plucinsky, a BMW spokesman. “The brake takes precedence.”
Words by FYI on November 9, 2009 at 7:45 pm | #
had an accident friday nov 6th in a toyota runaway car. i pulled into a parking lot of a restaurant went over an uneven apron was riding my brake when the car accelerated my sister in law said it sounded like an airplane taking off. it hurled us out into traffic a buick hit me on the left spun me around and i was it by a handicapped van. my car was totaled. the van was totaled the seats were all twisted every window blew out my sister inlaw has 2 fractures in her right leg i am all bruised on my left side and i can hardly move my right leg. so much for the toyotas being a safe car
Words by patricia kohlmayer on November 13, 2009 at 1:06 pm | #
July 22 this year my wife and I were driving a 2009 corolla on the highway at 90 km/hr. It took off when I hit resume on the cruise. No brakes and full acceleration. We had 8 seconds before we hit the truck ahead of us at 120 Km/hr. Toyota Canada contends nothing is wrong with the car and now refuses to talk with us. 2009 corollas are a new model year and have “fly by wire” accerator control. This had nothing to do with floor mats. We now drive a Honda Civic.
Words by John James on December 11, 2009 at 1:54 am | #