Toyota, the carmaker whose name until recently stood for reliability, may soon be known instead as the carmaker subject to more product liability lawsuits than any other in history. From floor mats to gas pedals to brakes, the Toyota recalls keep piling on and the number of vehicle families involved grows with each new recall. The auto defect attorneys at the McClellan Law Firm can help you in a defective auto components case. Contact us at 619.677.1641 for a free consultation.
Toyota, the carmaker whose name until recently stood for reliability, may soon be known instead as the carmaker subject to more product liability lawsuits than any other in history. From floor mats to gas pedals to brakes, the Toyota recalls keep piling on and the number of vehicle families involved grows with each new recall.
While defects in massive numbers of Toyota vehicles signifies trouble for the automaker, its liability may skyrocket if Toyota owners are able to prove that the company knew the deficiencies existed and either failed to disclose them or downplayed their significance in the months and years leading up to the recalls. The House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee may shed light on those issues in February when it delves into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of safety problems in millions of Toyota vehicles.
The most recent Toyotas to join the recall list are 8,000 model year 2010 Tacoma 4WD trucks, whose drive shafts may contain cracks and need replacement. Before the Tacoma trucks, the Prius and Lexus families saw a combined 147,500 of their members recalled for potentially faulty brakes. And of course the recall that started the chain reaction was the faulty gas pedal recall, which led to the recall of 8.5 million cars in eight model families worldwide, including 2.5 million vehicles in the United States alone. Toyota initially blamed the sticking accelerator problem on floor mats and recalled floor mats in 4.2 million of the cars eventually recalled for gas pedal deficiencies.
Car buyers who sue Toyota will likely attach significance to a report from Safety Research and Strategies documenting 275 crashes, including 18 fatalities, caused by sticking Toyota accelerator pedals. These crashes date as far back as 1999. They may also rely on Toyota's actions to fix sticking gas pedals in Europe in August, five months earlier than it claims to have become aware of the existence of the problem in the U.S.
Already Toyota faces dozens of product liability lawsuits stemming from injuries and deaths and is expected to face more, according to the LA Times. Uninjured Toyota owners are filing suit against Toyota for the diminished value of their vehicles in light of the recalls; at least 30 class actions have been filed to date, the LA Times reported.
A recent action by Consumer Reports to temporarily remove its "recommended" rating on the recalled Toyota vehicles could contribute to a loss in resale value for Toyotas. Consumer Reports did soften the blow for Toyota and bolster the reputation of its own rating process by noting that it still believes the recalled cars to be sound vehicles and anticipates restoring the "recommended" designation once Toyota implements a fix.
Toyota Not The First Automaker on Treacherous Terrain
Toyota’s recall of floor mats, instead of addressing what was most likely electrical issues, raised concerns that Toyota was valuing income over customer safety. However, Toyota was not the first car manufacturer who placed importance on the dollar. If you or a loved one has been injured due to an automotive defect, call a California product liability attorney from the McClellan Law Firm at 619.677.1641.
Threat of Litigation Helps Ensure Defective Vehicles Are Fixed
Automotive defects can be very dangerous and increase accident rates significantly. These defects, such a Ford’s unsafe gas tank location and poor SUV design leading to car fires and rollovers, were not given much thought by the auto company until the threat of litigation faced them. If you or a loved one has been injured due to an automotive defect, call a California product liability attorney from the McClellan Law Firm at 619.677.1641.
Teen Drivers at High Risk for Car Accidents
Across the nation, lawmakers are imposing a variety of restrictions on teen drivers in the hopes of stemming high crash rates. Teens are at a higher risk for car accidents, which is due to not only inexperience, but also distractions like passengers and cell phones. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a car accident, call a California car accident attorney from the McClellan Law Firm at 619.677.1641.
