Houston auto defect lawyers on vehicle defects and automaker attempts to keep them hidden. You may be aware of the problems Toyota has been facing over the last few years due in part to prominent defects in the products of the historically reliable automaker. For many years, Toyota was widely regarded by many consumers as the maker of the most reliable vehicles in an affordable price range.
Our Houston auto defect lawyers point out that recent years have seen a series of high-profile recalls as well as litigation over Toyota vehicle defects that caused injuries to car drivers and occupants. At the center of the controversy is the claim that some Toyotas have caused severe injury because of “unintended acceleration.” The vehicles at the center of the controversy were equipped with automated Electronic Throttle Controls (ETCs), and suddenly surged into high speeds and could not be controlled with braking.
A judge has ruled that the automaker can’t compel victims to submit their claims for arbitration. So the first case has been scheduled for trial later on in the year, and news accounts continue to follow the Toyota “unintended acceleration” saga.
Our Houston auto defect lawyers emphasize that Toyotas are by no means the only vehicles equipped with automated ETCs that show signs of failure and unintended acceleration accidents. Subaru, which uses an ETC system functionally identical to the Toyota ETC system, also faces high-dollar accident claims from unintended acceleration accidents. In one case involving a Subaru Forester, lawyers for the injured party found multiple claims of unintended acceleration in the vehicles in U.S. NHTSA accident data. They also found that another owner had complained to the Subaru dealership of at least two separate unintended acceleration incidents in his Subaru Forester.
And Kia Motors has also faced claims from unintended acceleration. In one case involving a Kia Amanti, the company called in a highly trained defense team and tried to blame driver error rather than accept responsibility for a surging vehicle that would not respond to braking.
So just because you haven’t heard of a publicly announced recall on your vehicle, does not mean that your vehicle is problem-free. Some automakers simply try to ignore or hide problems as long as they can. Toyota has generally been more forthright than some other automakers in announcing its problems and trying to get them fixed before they lead to even more costly lawsuits.
In most cases where you’re suffering injuries because of vehicle defects like unintended acceleration, the automaker will try to avoid responsibility for the problem. Most automakers will do all that’s in their power to try and avoid the blame and to try and avoid paying you the high costs from your injuries. So contact our skillful Houston auto defect lawyers to help you build and win your case. With more than 12 years of experience helping injured victims win full financial recoveries from obstructive automakers and their aggressive defense teams, we have the resources and the legal knowledge that could help you win your case. Call us today at 877-307-9500 (toll free) or use our convenient online contact form to schedule your free and confidential legal consultation.