Law firm McCuneWright announced late last week it has filed a national class action lawsuit against Japanese carmaker Toyota, on behalf of those onwers who have experienced the already infamous sudden acceleration problem with Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
The law firm's case is based on the fact that, despite Toyota blaming the vehicles' floor mats for the problem, this may not be entirely true. According to new data, some 16 fatalities and 243 injuries were reported as caused by sudden unintended acceleration of Toyota made vehicles. And this, McCuneWright says, has been happening for years.
"For years, Toyota Motor Corporation has dismissed complaints of sudden acceleration as being the driver's fault," David Wright, attorney with the firm said. "But neither driver error nor floor mats can explain away many other frightening instances of runaway Toyotas. Until the company acknowledges the real problem and fixes it, we worry that other preventable injuries and deaths will occur."
The firm asks Toyota to fix the problems with the ignition button (which must be depressed continuously for three seconds when the vehicle is moving before it will turn off the engine), the neutral gear position (difficult to find) and the brake pedal, which requires to much force to stop the vehicle.
"We think this lawsuit is necessary to save lives," Wright concludedd. "Along with other individual lawsuits, the press, consumer groups, and the government, it is our goal to force Toyota to make these changes."
The law firm's case is based on the fact that, despite Toyota blaming the vehicles' floor mats for the problem, this may not be entirely true. According to new data, some 16 fatalities and 243 injuries were reported as caused by sudden unintended acceleration of Toyota made vehicles. And this, McCuneWright says, has been happening for years.
"For years, Toyota Motor Corporation has dismissed complaints of sudden acceleration as being the driver's fault," David Wright, attorney with the firm said. "But neither driver error nor floor mats can explain away many other frightening instances of runaway Toyotas. Until the company acknowledges the real problem and fixes it, we worry that other preventable injuries and deaths will occur."
The firm asks Toyota to fix the problems with the ignition button (which must be depressed continuously for three seconds when the vehicle is moving before it will turn off the engine), the neutral gear position (difficult to find) and the brake pedal, which requires to much force to stop the vehicle.
"We think this lawsuit is necessary to save lives," Wright concludedd. "Along with other individual lawsuits, the press, consumer groups, and the government, it is our goal to force Toyota to make these changes."