There is no doubt that you have likely heard about the sweeping Toyota Recall. This recall is for good reason. Unless you never read a paper, listen to the news or use a computer you have undoubtedly heard something about Toyota recalling a huge number of vehicles. What you may not realize is that Toyota has actually announced two separate recalls. The first recall was announced in October and covered almost 4 million vehicles. This recall has come to be called the “accelerator pedal entrapment” recall. In those vehicles, the accelerator pedal configuration appears to have been faulty and was getting stuck on the floor mats.
Then, just last month, Toyota announced a recall of another 2.3 million vehicles for yet another accelerator pedal problem. This time, the problem seems to be internal to the pedal itself. The pedal itself can be harder to depress, slower to return to the closed position or get stuck in a partially depressed position. Unlike the “accelerator pedal entrapment” situation, this new problem is one that will develop and worsen over time. Amazingly, Toyota says that owners can continue to drive their vehicles until a remedy is available. We all hope it doesn’t happen, but, experts say that if you do find yourself in a situation where the accelerator pedal becomes stuck, that the best thing to do is to put the car in neutral. With the car in neutral, you retain control over the steering wheel and the brakes.
If you have been the victim of an accident caused by one of these two accelerator pedal problems, the recalls may be too little too late. Reports of accidents attributable to one or the other of these accelerator pedal problems have been pouring in for months. While Toyota has begun to repair the vehicles affected under the first recall, the drivers of the vehicles from the second recall don’t even have a remedy yet. This means that people are driving vehicles with a known safety hazard. If you have been in an accident wherein one of the recalled vehicles was involved, then you may have a claim against the manufacturer. Manufacturers can, and should, be held liable for defective products. If found liable, then they will have to compensate you for damages that you have suffered as a result of the accident. Seek the advice of a California personal injury and product liability lawyer as soon as possible. Navigating the laws and facing off with a company as large as Toyota can be daunting tasks – tasks that are better left for an experienced attorney. An experienced California personal injury and product liability attorney can evaluate your case, explain your options and recommend a course of action that is appropriate in your particular case. Although many people have suffered injuries as a result of these recalled products, no two cases are exactly alike.
If you would like to speak to an experienced California personal injury and product liability attorney, contact the law offices of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or visit us at
