Toyota Japan announces 5 new confirmed accidents involving the 2010 Prius.
Toyota announced yet another recall yesterday in what appears to be a never ending list of recalls. After 4 million vehicles were recalled in October and another 2.3 million recalled in January, the half a million or so recalled yesterday around the world may seem inconsequential. The victims of alleged accidents involving the recalled vehicles would certainly not consider the recall inconsequential.
On February 6, 2010 Japan’s government announced that it had confirmed five new accidents involving possible brake malfunction in the Toyota Prius hybrid. At that time, the government of Japan was urging Toyota to investigate and was calling for a possible recall of the vehicle. That recall was ultimately announced yesterday. In Japan alone, the transport ministry has received more than 80 complaints in the past few weeks regarding the malfunctions in the ABS braking system in the Prius. Of those 80 complaints, five complaints allege that a crash was caused by the malfunction of the braking system. The latest recall will hit Japan hard as the Prius was the best selling car in Japan in 2009. Here in the United States, the Prius has also earned a reputation as an up and coming hybrid vehicle. According to the EPA, the Prius is the most gas efficient vehicle sold in the United States and it is considered among the cleanest vehicles sold in America. Globally, more than 1.5 million Prius’ were sold in 2009.
The recall announced yesterday came on the heels of the pressure put on Toyota by the Japanese government, as well as other governments around the world including the United States, to investigate the accidents and complaints that it had confirmed. The injuries sustained in these accidents have not been announced, but the simple fact that there have been accidents involving injuries is troubling in and of itself. Judging by past experience, we can anticipate hearing about more accidents and additional injuries suffered by drivers, passengers and pedestrians as a result of the faulty brake systems in the recalled vehicles.
If you have been in an accident where one of these recalled vehicles was involved, then you may have a personal injury and/or product liability claim for damages suffered as a result of the accident. Both personal injury and product liability law are very complicated legal processes and require the expertise and guidance of an experienced California accident and product liability attorney. The law allows injured parties to recover damages from the responsible party when they are involved in a car accident. Sometimes the responsible party is another driver, but sometimes the responsible party is the manufacturer of the vehicle. Only an experience California personal injury and product liability attorney can evaluate your particular situation and help you determine who is liable for the injuries you have suffered.
If you have questions or concerns involving an accident you were involved in, and would like an experienced attorney to evaluate your case, contact the law offices of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or visit us at www.ledgerlaw.com.
