Toyota Looking to Settle Hundreds of Pending Lawsuits

According to the New York Times, Toyota announced recently that it would begin negotiations to settle hundreds of federal and state lawsuits brought on over the sudden acceleration issues facing its vehicles a few years ago.

The Times reported that the decision comes two months after an Oklahoma jury found the manufacturer’s Camry model to have a defective electronic throttle system. In the case, the jury said Toyota recklessly disregarded the issue, despite reports about the problem, holding it liable for the 2005 death of a woman and injuries to another person.

“Toyota had won its first three sudden-acceleration trials; the Oklahoma verdict was the automaker’s first loss,” the Times reported. “Legal analysts said that the verdict most likely spurred Toyota to pursue a broad settlement of its remaining cases.”

In July 2013, Toyota agreed to pay $1.6 billion to settle a class action lawsuit brought on by vehicle owners who suffered financial losses. However, the company still faces hundreds of personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, most of which have been consolidated in California courts.

According to the Times, a settlement would help Toyota move on from the bad press associated with the defective parts. The newspaper reported that since 2009, the company has recalled more than 11 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles for problems including floor mats that caused the accelerator to become stuck.

The Toyota case is the perfect example of many individuals who sustained damages in similar situations suing on behalf of themselves and all others who have been injured.

If you have any interest in speaking with the attorney about a potential class action lawsuit, please contact Gary S. Graifman, Esq., toll free at (866) 971-0927 to schedule a free initial consultation or complete the form on this page to let our skilled attorneys review your case.

Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C. – Class Action Lawyers

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/14/business/toyota-seeks-settlement-for-lawsuits.html?_r=0

KGG’s Corner: Toyota recently recalled more than 400,000 vehicles in Saudi Arabia over alleged acceleration defects.