New Jersey Personal Injury Blog
Toyota Vehicles Recalled for Faulty Floor Mats
Toyota Motor Corp. announced that 3.8 million of its vehicles in the United States are being recalled to correct a safety issue pertaining to removable floor mats. The floor mats in question could have a propensity for causing the accelerator to become stuck, allowing the vehicle to continue acceleration, and, making it difficult to bring the vehicle to a stop. According to Toyota, the recall will affect the 2007-2010 model year Toyota Camry, the 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, the 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, the 2005-2010 Tacoma, the 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, the 2007-2010 Lexus ES350 and, the 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350. A money.cnn.com article reported that motorists driving any of these Toyoya vehicles should immediately remove the floor mat from the driver’s side to eliminate the risk of injury from a stuck accelerator.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reports have been received of at least 102 different incidents in which the accelerator on a Toyota vehicle became stuck because of the floor mats. One noteworthy reported accident, and the incident which initially spurred the investigation into the auto product defect, involved a high-speed crash which occurred in California in August of 2009. That accident made headlines when the passengers inside a Lexus made a frantic call to 911 emergency services to explain that their accelerator was stuck and that they couldn’t stop their vehicle. All passengers in that vehicle were killed when the car unavoidably crashed.
Manufacturers, designers, and distributors of motor vehicles all have obligations to ensure that their products are safe to use and fit for the purpose intended. If they breach those obligations, it can result in tragic circumstances including motor vehicle accidents causing injury or death.
If you or a loved one have recently been involved in a motor vehicle accident, and you have reason to believe that a defective auto product may have been a factor in causing an accident or injuries, contact the auto product liability attorneys at Blume Goldfaden. Our skilled personal injury lawyers will evaluate the details of the accident, and, will determine whether a product liability claim may be warranted. For more information, call us for a no-cost consultation at 973-635-5400.
Source:http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/29/news/companies/toyota_lexus_floor_mats/
Improper Tire Pressure Poses Potential Risk in Jaguars
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Jaguar is recalling certain vehicles where THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE ON THE TIRE PLACARD LABEL DOES NOT CORRESPOND WITH THE TIRES FITTED TO THE VEHICLE. The vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, known as “Tire Selection and Rims.” According to the recall, vehicle owners that do not inflate tires to the correct pressure run the risk of losing vehicle control, as stability is diminished, and, the likelihood of being involved in a motor vehicle accident is increased. Previously, Jaguar also recalled VEHICLES FITTED WITH RUN FLAT TIRES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.138, “TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM, “TPMS” In that case, the concern was that the FAILURE TO WARN OF TIRE DEFLATIONS IS A NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 138 AND COULD LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE AND A CRASH.
These product recalls are representative of the various types of issues that a consumer may face after purchasing a product. Though the product referenced was tested before its release for sale to the public, certainly evaluated and observed by numerous people, and deemed safe, the tire pressure issues were not discovered until after individuals may have been injured as the result of the defect. Jaguar has cautioned consumers of the tire pressure issue. However, the company may still be liable for injuries and property damage that the product defect caused.
Manufacturers, product designers, and distributors have an obligation to provide the public with products that are safe and fit for the purposes intended. Automobile product defects affect a large number of consumers each year; and while car manufacturers test and inspect vehicles, oversights, such as the ones mentioned here, can certainly lead to serious injury or death.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident where an automobile product defect significantly contributed to the incident or injury, contact one of the skilled product liability attorneys at Blume Goldfaden. As a consumer, you have rights, and, at Blume Goldfaden we will protect those rights. Call us today at 973-635-5400 for a no cost consultation.