A wide range of factors can attribute, either individually or in concert,
to a serious automobile accident. From an intoxicated or
distracted driver to poorly managed streets and highways, there seems to be little shortage
of worrisome conditions that could transform a responsible person’s
routine drive into an injurious or even deadly collision in the blink
of an eye.
One crucial element of the driving experience that isn’t frequently
considered by those on the road, however, is the mechanics of cars themselves.
Still, each year numerous accidents and untold sums of damage are incurred
both here in Arizona and across the country on account of an irresponsibly
designed or maintained vehicle.
Plagued by numerous legal battles on account of a malfunctioning “sticky”
gas pedal in its models and the poorly-managed recall that followed, Toyota
recently reached a settlement with the attorneys general of 29 states
(including Arizona) that alleged the auto giant had failed to properly
notify its customers of the dangers of its products.
All told, Toyota will pay $29 million to settle the 2010 lawsuit, which
had asserted that the necessary communication of the sticking gas pedal
recall between the company’s headquarters and its customer base was
mismanaged and unduly slow.
In addition to payments to the states involved in the suit, Toyota has
agreed to post owners’ manuals online in order to make vehicle information
more accessible to its drivers. An overhaul to the company’s safety
error response system will also be soon underway.
This is not the only payment Toyota has made in connection with its malfunctioning
gas pedals. Over $1 billion has already been paid to victims and victims’
families who have suffered an injury or death as a result of
car accidents brought on by faulty gas pedals causing a serious accident.
While the safety and reliability of vehicles on the road has improved drastically
in recent years and decades, recalls such as this one have shown that
when automobile manufacturers make an error, and then fail to rectify
that error with the expedience it demands, the consequences for drivers
can be tragic. For those who have been injured in auto accident, working
with an experienced personal injury attorney can help ensure that the
due restitution is paid by those responsible.
Source: Huffington Post, “Toyota pays $29M to states to settle safety suit,”
De-Ann Durbin, Feb. 14, 2013
When those responsible for designing and maintaining a safe automobile
are negligent in their duties, a serious accident can befall even the
most careful of motorists. To learn more about how what steps to take
after an injury, please contact a Phoenix personal injury lawyer.
Call or text 602-682-5270 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
