Toyota Defects and Injuries

Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

When we purchase any new product, we like to think it is well-designed, well-built, and free of defects. For the most part, the new products we purchase, and the new cars we drive off car lots are free of flaws and safe. Sadly, however, consumers sometimes purchase products that are not safe; some of those defective products can even be deadly. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to a defective vehicle or product in Maryland, Virginia or the Washington, D.C. area, please contact the product liability attorneys at Chaikin Sherman Cammarata Siegel, P.C. today to schedule a no-cost, confidential consultation.

Massive Toyota Recall

For many years now, Toyota Motor Corporation has enjoyed a reputation of producing safe, reliable, and economical cars. In fact, the Toyota Camry was the nation’s best-selling car four years in a row from 2001-2005. Due to recent defects and the subsequent recall of millions of Toyota vehicles, consumers are losing faith in the car company that has ruled the roost for many years. Toyota has ceased sales of many vehicles and is losing billions of dollars in revenue.

Several months ago, a variety of makes and models were recalled due to the pedals getting stuck under floor mats. Just a few weeks ago, Toyota Motor Corporation was forced to announce yet another, even larger, recall due to accelerator pedals sticking, causing sudden acceleration, which can, of course, result in accidents causing serious personal injury and even death.

The first recall (due to gas pedals getting stuck under floor mats) involved these vehicles:

• Toyota Prius (2004–09)
• Toyota Avalon (2005–10)
• Toyota Tacoma (2005–10)
• Lexus IS 250 (2006–10)
• Lexus IS 350 (2006–10)
• Lexus ES 350 (2007–10)
• Toyota Camry (2007–10)
• Toyota Tundra (2007–10)

The second recall due to accelerator pedals sticking involved these vehicles:

• Toyota Rav4, Corolla, Matrix (2009-2010)
• Avalon (2005-2010)
• Camry (2007-2010)
• Highlander (2010)
• Tundra (2007-2010)
• Sequoia (2008-2010)

Injury/Death Numbers Not Definitive

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been maintaining a database to document complaints of injuries and deaths associated with defective Toyotas. According to the NHTSA, in the past three weeks, consumers have reported to the government nine crashes involving 13 alleged deaths in the last five years due to accelerator problems. The database shows new complaints skyrocketing over the 2010 Prius hybrid, which was just recently recalled due to problems with the braking system.

Toyota has released a statement entitled “Our Commitment to Customers” that assures consumers the company is fixing up to 50,000 vehicles each day; engineers have fixed the problem; and Toyota is taking steps to learn from this experience to ensure it never happens again.

Legal Help is Available

If you have suffered injuries due to an accident caused by a defective vehicle, you may face long-term consequences such as reduced or no income, mounting medical bills, physical rehabilitation, funeral expenses (in the case of a wrongful death), and other expenses related to your injury or a fatality. Your life may be forever changed; the financial security you once enjoyed may disappear. The product liability attorneys at our firm genuinely understand what you are going through if you have been injured in an accident through no fault of your own, and we can help you just as we have helped countless others.

Product liability cases can be complex and can take a while to be resolved. We want you to focus on getting well again, while we focus on fighting to get you the justice and financial compensation to which you are entitled. At this time, it is unclear how many innocent drivers have sustained injuries due to defective Toyotas.

Please contact Chaikin Sherman Cammarata Siegel, P.C. today if you believe you may have a valid defective vehicle claim against Toyota. We are accepting these and other defective product cases in the Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. area.

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