A recent California car crash involving a woman whose car ended up partially
falling into an elevator shaft after she crashed it into a martial arts
studio has our auto products liability attorneys wondering if sudden unintended
acceleration played a role. Gerry Young says that her Toyota Prius wouldn’t
stop even after she took the keys out of the ignition. The motor vehicle
accident occurred last Thursday.
Young was stuck in the car in the elevator for almost an hour. Fortunately,
she was able to get free before the elevator went down, partially crushing
her vehicle.
As our auto products liability attorney have written about in the past
on our blog, the problem of sudden acceleration has been cited in many
wrongful death and personal injury cases against Toyota. This safety issue
involves vehicles accelerating suddenly and rapidly while the driver is
unable to slow or stop the car.
Toyota has recalled over 10 million vehicles since 2009 because of problems
linked to sudden unintended acceleration, as well as other safety issues.
The automaker has paid the US government more than $30 million for failing
to notify them about safety issues in a timely manner. Innocent motorists
have also been blamed for causing accidents that were not their fault.
Recently, a Toyota-appointed panel said that the car manufacturer still
hasn’t done enough to tackle these different problems. Ex-U.S. Transportation
Secretary Rodney Slater, who heads up the panel, says the group found
that the automaker’s centralized decision making process and “skepticism
and defensiveness” toward consumers has played a huge role in why
the recalls were necessary.
Runaway Prius Slams into Mini-Mall in Pasadena, KTLA, May 26, 2011
Toyota Prius crash prompts emergency court filing, Los Angeles Times,
May 27, 2011
Panel: Toyota Hasn’t Done Enough to Address Safety Issues, Consumer
Affairs, May 2011.
Throughout the US, our Toyota sudden acceleration lawyers represent victims and their families. Contact The Gilbert Law Group, P.C. for your free consultation.
