Illinois personal injury attorneys usually represent clients who were injured by a motorist’s negligence. Many of our clients are hurt, or their loved ones have been killed, because a driver was distracted or intoxicated. However, not all motor vehicle accident cases arise out of negligence. Sometimes, it is the motor vehicle manufacturer who is responsible for the accident because of a defect in the vehicle.
A vehicle defect is what recently led Toyota to issue its largest ever recall in the United States. The recall, announced in late September, applies to approximately 3.8 million vehicles. The recall was issued because the driver’s side floor mats in certain Toyota models did not properly fit and could get caught in the accelerator.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Authority (NHTSA) received 102 reports that the accelerator may have become stuck because of the floor mat in the affected Toyota models. At least one of incidents led to a fatal accident. In August, a floor mat caused the accelerator to get stuck in a car and the car crashed while traveling at over 120 miles per hour killing four people.
If you drive a Toyota, or Lexus, model affected by this recall such as the 2007-2010 model year Toyota Camrys, 2005-2010 Toyota Avalons, 2004-2009 Toyota Priuses, 2005-2010 Tacomas, 2007-2010 Toyota Tundras, 2007-2010 Lexus ES350s and 2006-2010 Lexus IS250s and IS350s then you are urged to immediately remove the driver’s side floor mat and wait for detailed directions in the formal recall.
If you have been hurt or a loved one has been killed due to a defect in a motor vehicle then you may be entitled to damages. Please contact an Illinois products liability attorney today for a free consultation.