Beset by massive recalls, Toyota, once considered among America's premier auto brands, has seen its image plummet with Philadelphia consumers. Government officials and safety agencies have criticized the Japanese auto maker for failing to respond promptly to personal injury accidents caused by faulty auto design. Two different problems involving the accelerator have prompted recalls of several Toyota models that are highly popular with Philadelphia residents. A Congressional hearing is scheduled for this week.
Five people have died in two different personal injury car accidents caused when the accelerator pedal got caught in the floor mat. That design flaw led Toyota to recall 3.8 million vehicles last fall. Last week, Toyota recalled an additional 2.3 million vehicles because of a potentially dangerous sticky accelerator. While the National Highway Transportation Safety Board has reported no confirmed deaths resulting from Toyota's sticking accelerators that doesn't mean none have occurred. It can take months to accurately determine the cause of fatal and personal injury car accidents.
When fatal or serious injuries occur in a Philadelphia car accident, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers investigate to determine the cause. When a defect in the design or manufacture of a vehicle is found to be at fault, it is often the ensuing Philadelphia personal injury lawsuit that shines a national spotlight on the problem and warns the public of the danger.
In Toyota's case, it has been largely reported in the press that while North American Toyota officials quickly expressed concern about these car defects, the company's Japanese headquarters had to be prodded to issue recalls and address design flaws. Consternation over the wide scope of Toyota's accelerator problem caused the auto maker to take the unheard of measure of stopping production at its U.S. manufacturing plants while developing a solution.
Philadelphia residents who have been injured a car accident that may have been caused by a flaw in Toyota's accelerator should contact a Philadelphia personal injury attorney for a free case evaluation.
