This year, Toyota recalled millions of vehicles in the United States due to potentially dangerous gas pedals. Independent investigations and reports have linked the Toyota sudden unintended acceleration problem to over 800 accidents, involving over 300 injuries and 19 deaths. Since 1999 there have been over 1700 incidents of sudden unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Despite this history of problems, Toyota failed to address this issue until the August 2009 deaths of California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor and three of his family members.
Toyota initially blamed sudden unintended acceleration on faulty floor mats. However, Toyota has since changed its story, and said that the problem is that the accelerator pedal can wear down and become difficult to depress, slow to spring back or stuck partly depressed. This can cause sudden unintended acceleration, and the driver may be unable to slow or stop the vehicle.
Motorists experiencing accelerator pedal sticking were advised to take the following steps:
- If the accelerator pedal sticks in a partially open throttle position or returns slowly to idle position, the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the brakes. The brakes will stop the vehicle no matter the throttle position.
- Don't pump the brakes because it could deplete the vacuum assist, making it even harder to depress the brake pedal.
- When under control, the vehicle should be driven to the nearest safe location and the engine should be turned off.
- Contact a Toyota dealer as soon as possible for assistance.
As the manufacturer of these vehicles, Toyota has a responsibility to safely manufacture, design and market them. If there is a defect in a vehicle that causes a crash, generally the car manufacturer - in these instances, Toyota - is liable for any damages caused in the crash.
Our attorneys are investigating collisions with stuck accelerators in the following Toyota models:
| Toyota Camry |
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2007-10 models |
| Toyota Corolla |
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2009-10 models |
| Toyota Avalon |
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2005-10 models |
| Toyota Prius |
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2004-09 models |
| Toyota Tacoma |
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2005-10 models |
| Toyota Tundra |
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2007-10 models |
| Toyota Highlander |
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2010 model |
| Toyota Matrix |
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2009-10 models |
| Toyota Sequoia |
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2008-10 models |
| Lexus ES 350 |
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2007-10 models |
| Lexus IS 250 |
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2006-10 models |
| Lexus IS 350 |
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2006-10 models |
If you have been seriously injured due to a stuck accelerator in any of the above Toyota models, contact our attorneys today.
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