Oklahoma City Toyota Recall Attorneys
Toyota Recall Defect
Imagine driving safely along the roadway when suddenly your vehicle begins to accelerate. You are unable to slow down and your vehicle keeps speeding up until you inevitably crash. Hundreds of people have suffered injuries in this exact terrifying scenario. Unintended acceleration is the frightening consequence of an auto part defect that affected millions of Toyota vehicles, many of them popular models. A number of deaths and serious injuries have been attributed to defective gas pedals and faulty floor mats that could jam accelerators, making it difficult for the driver to stop the vehicle.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a defective automobile, particularly a recalled Toyota vehicle, please contact Oklahoma City auto defect attorney Ray Maples to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights. We have helped many victims and families seek and obtain justice and fair compensation for their losses.
Recall of Defective Vehicles
Around the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010, the Toyota Motor Corporation initiated three recalls to try to prevent any more accidents, but the damage was already done for many drivers and their families.
The first recall Toyota issued that was linked to the issue of sudden acceleration was in November 2009. That recall involved defective floor mats that could move and jam the gas pedal. In January 2010, a second recall was ordered to fix sticky accelerator pedals. Then, Toyota issued a separate recall in February 2010 for anti-lock brake software. Millions of vehicles were recalled and Toyota still could not definitively answer why their cars were involved in so many injury accidents.
What Caused the Sudden Acceleration?
In February 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that the sudden or unintended vehicle acceleration was being caused not by electronic, but mechanical issues. According to a team of NASA engineers assisting federal regulators with the investigation, the "unsafe and unintended" acceleration in Toyotas were caused by mechanical safety flaws involving the stuck accelerators becoming trapped underneath the vehicles' floor mat.
However, in October of 2013, a jury determined that the electronic throttle control system contributed to the crashes as well. They found that Toyota did not follow safe practices for real time life-critical software, which resulted in the vehicles accelerating out of control. The court's decision forced Toyota to enter settlement talks with victims and their families.
Understanding Your Rights
Product manufacturers, including automakers, have a legal obligation to produce, market and sell products that are safe for consumers. Automakers can be held liable for the injuries, damages and losses their products cause. Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. If you have lost a loved one as a result of a defective automobile, you can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation as well.
It is important for victims or families to preserve the vehicle so an expert can thoroughly examine it for defects, malfunctions and design flaws. The Oklahoma City product defect lawyer Ray Maples can help you obtain the compensation you rightfully deserve and hold the negligent automakers accountable. Call us at (405) 883-4487 for a free consultation and case evaluation.