Wednesday, Toyota Motor Corporation reported it will replace accelerator pedals on about 4 million recalled vehicles in the U. S. because of the recurrance of the gas pedal getting stuck in the floor mat. Toyota will instruct dealers on how to do the modification to the pedals before the end of the year, enabling dealers to offer the remedy beginning in January. This is a temporary fix while the company develops replacement pedals for their vehicles.
Toyota hopes to have the replacements available beginning in April. The replacement pedals will be provided and recommended even if the vehicles have already received a modified pedal under the recall. A brake override system will be installed on some vehicle models as a precaution. In the meantime, if your Toyota accelerator sticks, they recommend you put the car in neutral and then apply the brakes.
This recall is the second chapter to a massive floor mat recall in September of 2009. At that time, Toyota told owners to remove the driver’s side floor mats to keep the gas pedal from becoming jammed. The company said unhooked floor mats or replacement mats stacked on top of the originals could lead to stuck gas pedals. NHTSA issued a rebuke accusing Toyota of releasing misleading information about the recall, saying removing the mats did not “correct the underlying defect.” Of course, Toyota responded that it was not their intention to mislead anyone. Cars affected by the recall:
- 2007-10 Toyota Camry
- 2005-10 Toyota Avalon
- 2004-09 Toyota Prius
- 2005-10 Toyota Tacoma
- 2007-10 Toyota Tundra
- 2007-10 Lexus ES350
- 2006-10 Lexus IS250/350
A brake override system will become standard equipment throughout the Toyota and Lexus lineup by the end of 2010. The following models are to receive the brake override system installation:
- Camry
- Avalon
- Lexus ES350
- Lexus IS350
- Lexus IS250
The government statistics report five deaths and two injuries due to floor mat-related, unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. In excess of 100 incidents have been reported in which the accelerator may have become stuck. But a safety consultant in Massachusetts, who has investigated many Toyota cases, found more than 2,000 incidents involving 16 deaths and 243 injuries potentially tied to the Toyota gas pedals.
For additional information, owners should contact Toyota at 800-331-4331 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 800-331-4331 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or the NHTSA hot line at 888-327-4236.
Minnesota Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in an accident due to mechanical defect, you need expert legal representation to maximize your compensation. You should not have to shoulder the financial burden because of the negligence of a manufacturer. Contact our Minnesota Car Accident Lawyers at 612-362-0000. We will work aggressively on your behalf.
Each year there are tens of thousands of burn injuries that happen in car accidents. Burns can be the result of direct contact with fire or a chemical or thermal burn from the airbag explosion. 
If you have been in a car accident, you need to report the accident immediately to police and your insurance company and then contact a personal injury lawyer. You need an attorney with the ability to fight back against the insurance companies. 
Herniated disc injuries often occur in car accidents, but they are rarely diagnosed in the emergency room because they do not show up on x-rays. A disc can push out into the spinal canal and press against spinal nerves. When this happens it can produce severe neck, arm, back, leg, and / or foot pain. If you have had a car accident and are experiencing sharp pain in your neck, arm, back, leg, or foot, you should see a doctor immediately.
In Minnesota, all drivers are required to maintain a minimum level of liability insurance in order to operate a vehicle. Liability coverage is to cover costs if you are responsible for the accident. The minimum amount by law is 30/60. That means the maximum the insurance company will cover will be $30,000 per person with a max of $60,000 per accident / incident.
It is indisputable that cell phones, PDAs, and iPods have led to distracted drivers on the road nationwide. There have been many serious accidents caused by drivers who were driving while texting (DWT):
Punitive damages is defined as monetary compensation awarded to an injured party that is awarded over and above losses. It is intended to punish the wrongdoer for malicious misconduct. Idealistically, punitive damages are awarded with the hopes that it will also deter the defendant from repeating the offense.
An Independent Medical Exam (IME) is not independent nor is it actually a medical exam. It is more of an oral and visual medical review, often times performed in an intimidating fashion. It is scheduled by the no fault insurance company and the doctor is hired by the defense to find any reason for your insurance claim to be reduced or denied.
About half of the states in the United States require Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. Minnesota is one of those states. UM protects you and covers your losses if you are involved in an accident with a driver that does not have insurance. You make a claim against your insurance.
Many people buy an inadequate amount of liability insurance coverage — not nearly enough to cover the damage done by most collisions. Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) is necessary because of the skyrocketing costs of medical care and the high costs of vehicle repair / replacement. UIM is optional, typically not required by law, but it can be a financial lifesaver.