Toyota, Lexus Owners Make Sudden-Acceleration Complaints | DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog

Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, Esquire

The AP (12/7) reported, “Cars made by Toyota registered far more complaints about sudden acceleration in its 2008 model-year vehicles than any other automaker, a new study has found. Toyota and Lexus vehicles received 41 percent of all consumer complaints to a federal database about runaway acceleration, more than Chrysler, General Motors, Honda and Nissan combined, analysis by Consumer Reports found.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration records complaints and, according to the AP report, Jeff Bartlett, deputy online automotive editor at Consumer Reports, remarks that “this is a very real problem.”

Earlier this year, Toyota recalled approximately 4.26 million vehicles following some crashes that killed operators and passengers of their vehicles. Toyota claims to be taking corrective action.  The AP report notes, “A Los Angeles Times review found that 19 people have died in sudden acceleration accidents involving Toyota vehicles since the 2002 model year, more than all other automakers combined. In addition, the Times found that complaints of sudden acceleration increased dramatically after the automaker began replacing mechanical throttles with electronic throttle systems in the 2002 model year.” Obviously, others have been serious injured.

We hope that Toyota gets to the bottom of its product defect swiftly so that no other person is exposed to the serious danger it presents.  If you own a Toyota, we encourage you to get your vehicle inspected, especially if you have encountered a sudden acceleration or other unusual problem.

Read about Toyota’s findings about the sudden-acceleration claim.

About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. and has been rated by Washingtonian magazine as a “Big Gun” and among the “top 1%” of all lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area.  The magazine also describes him as “one of Washington’s best–most honest and effective lawyers” who specializes in personal injury matters, including serious truck and car collisions. He has successfully litigated numerous cases against truck and bus companies, the Washington Metropolitan Area transit Authority, and other automobile owners.  His law firm, in fact, has obtained the largest settlement ever in a personal injury case involving WMATA. Mr. Zambri has also been named a “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyer magazine (March/April 2009)–a national publication that honors the top lawyers in America.

Mr. Zambri is regularly asked to give presentations to lawyers and businesses regarding product defects, automobile accident litigation, and safety improvements.

Many Americans are killed or critically injured each year in vehicular collisions.  If you want more information about your legal rights, please email Mr. Zambri at [email protected] or call him at 202-822-1899.