What is Unintended Acceleration?

At the end of September 2009, Toyota announced that it would recall nearly 4 million vehicles that, the company says, are at risk of accelerating unexpectedly because of a floor mat problem. Both Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a safety warning on September 29, urging owners of several Toyota and Lexus vehicle models to remove the driver side floor mat immediately. 

According to the announcement, the gas pedal can become jammed on the floor mat, causing the vehicle to accelerate unexpectedly.

The recall will be Toyota's largest ever,  partly because it encompasses eight car models, and also because the problem has been known since 2007, when the car manufacturer started receiving the first reports of unintended acceleration. Affected vehicles:

• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2004-2009 Prius
• 2005-2010 Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350
• 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250 and IS350

How might unintended acceleration affect me?

To date, Toyota and the NHTSA have focused only on the floor mats as the cause of the acceleration problems.  And, while some investigators say that the floor mats are to blame, others aren't convinced. Many car owners, engineers, and consumer safety advocates believe that something else is to blame. Many owners of Prius cars, one of the models included in the floor mat recall, say that the floor mat theory is inconsistent with the acceleration problems they've experienced.  One owner said that she didn't even have a driver's side floor mat when her Prius accelerated unintentionally for the first time.

The seriousness of the problem was tragically demonstrated in August when four family members in a Lexus ES 350 that was loaned to them from their dealership soared off an embankment, rolled several times, and burned. All four occupants were killed. Mark Saylor, an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer, called 911 about a minute before the crash frantically reporting that the car was accelerating uncontrollably and that the brakes were unresponsive. Witnesses say the car topped speeds of 120 mph before it crashed.

Consumer safety advocates are hopeful that the NHTSA will conduct a thorough investigation into the problem. However, the agency relies on car manufacturers to provide any information directly relevant to the problem. Toyota stands accused of concealing and destroying evidence that might have aided plaintiffs in previous lawsuits. A former Toyota attorney filed a class action suit against his former employer in August, hoping to recover money for plaintiffs who lost or settled lawsuits in which evidence was hidden.

What can I do if I have been injured as the result of unintended acceleration?

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury or if a loved one has died as the result of unintended acceleration, you may be entitled to compensation. For a free legal consultation, contact us today!