The number of deaths blamed on Toyota accelerator defects rose to 34 this week as more personal injury lawsuits were filed against the beleaguered auto maker by consumers in Philadelphia and across the nation. An additional 1000 complaints concerning the brake system on Toyota's popular Prius hybrid were also filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this past week. The sharp uptick in public attention was spurred in part by publicity about personal injury investigations into injuries and deaths allegedly caused by Toyota's possibly defective auto design or manufacture. As often happens when personal injury lawsuits start flooding the courts, people who have suffered similar accidents begin to make the association between their own experience and that of others and decide to come forward.
In the past few months, problems with gas pedals, brakes and floor mats have resulted in the recall of 8.5 million Toyota vehicles worldwide. In early February, the government had received just 124 complaints about Toyota vehicles. Publicity and personal injury lawsuits quickly raised public consciousness to the point that barely one week later the government had received 1120 complaints. Consumer concern has already sparked three Congressional hearings with the government now looking into possible problems with the design of Toyota's electromagnetic system.
As often happens, it is not until people are injured or killed that manufacturers or distributors take responsibility, admit to product defects and take corrective action. It can take expert investigation by a Philadelphia personal injury attorney to uncover actionable evidence of manufacturer liability. In order to be considered defective under the law, a product must be deemed unreasonably dangerous. Issues used to prove defective product liability include:
- Design defects prior to product manufacture
- Defects in the manufacturing processes
- Incomplete or fraudulent product marketing
By Toyota's own admission, the company has violated at least two of the above issues. Toyota owners who have experienced a vehicle problem should consult an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney to see if they are eligible for compensation for their loss.
