TENNESSEE PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY BLOG: Gilreath and Associates

Contact  SidGilreath.com

Tennessee Injury Blog

Helping victims of injury and wrongful death obtain compensation is just one side of our practice. We also strive to educate potential clients and the public at large so they can better discuss cases with legal counsel and ensure successful outcomes.
  • Home
  • About
    • Attorneys
    • Firm Overview
    • Press Releases & Publications
  • Case Results
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
    • Brain Injury
    • Trucking Accidents
    • Auto Accidents
    • Motorcycle Accidents
    • Aviation Accidents
    • Boating/Watercraft Accidents
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Defective Products
    • Workers Compensation
    • Railroad Injuries/FELA
    • Memphis Car Accidents
    • Nashville Personal Injury Attorneys
    • Knoxville Car Accident Attorneys
    • Nashville Car Accidents
    • Birth Injury
  • Learn
    • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Directions
    • Referring Attorneys
Home / Injury / Toyota Agrees to $1.2 Billion Settlement for Covering Up Car Defects

Toyota Agrees to $1.2 Billion Settlement for Covering Up Car Defects

March 25, 2014 By Staff Writer

Toyota Car Defects

Following a four-year criminal investigation into Toyota’s disclosure of safety issues and product defects, the Japanese automaker has agreed to pay a fine of $1.2 billion to the U.S. government, according to an AP report released on March 19th.

The investigation suggested that Toyota has not been forthright in reporting faulty parts in their vehicles, specifically in relation to unintended acceleration problems.

The first indicators of trouble for Toyota Motor Corp. began in 2009, when the company had to issue several massive recalls, primarily in the U.S., due to a number of malfunctions relating to faulty brakes, gas pedals and floor mats. In total, the recalls affected more than 10 million vehicles.

Between 2010 and 2012, Toyota was fined over $66 million for dragging their feet on fixing these problems and others. Last year alone, the automaker agreed to shell out more than a billion dollars to settle hundreds of lawsuits from Toyota car owners claiming they suffered economic losses because of the recalls—that doesn’t even include the 200 or so wrongful death and car accident injury claims that are currently pending against Toyota in California state and federal courts.

The settlement agreement with the federal government comes on the cusp of an Oklahoma court decision that found Toyota was liable for the death of a 76 year old woman back in 2007. The jury ruled that the woman’s 2005 Camry, which sped out of control and crashed when exiting a highway, had a defect in the electrical system and Toyota was “reckless” in their disregard to the known issue.

This ruling came at a critical moment, because until this point Toyota had been dismissed of fault in three similar injury and wrongful death cases. Even still, the automaker continues to hold the position that their vehicles are not flawed, instead blaming drivers for the problems.

For instance, in the Oklahoma case, they suggested that the woman accidentally pushed down on the gas pedal instead of the brake. But after listening to the testimony of an expert witness who said he found mechanical defects in the car’s electronics, the jury sided with the plaintiff and Toyota was forced to pay $3 million in damages.

Reports of problems with spontaneous acceleration have increased substantially since Toyota introduced its ETCS-i system, which uses computer sensors to operate the throttle. However, the plaintiffs’ lawyers are arguing that these sensors can be triggered from the outside, thus opening up the throttle so much that the car’s brakes aren’t able to stop the surging vehicle.

The legal action Toyota now faces is less about whether these defects exist, and more a question of how long the company was aware of the problems and did nothing—leading to the death, injury and endangerment of thousands of drivers around the country.

News of this major settlement will undoubtedly set a precedent not just for Toyota, but the liability of the auto industry as a whole for defective vehicles and delayed recalls.

If you believe your car had a defect which led to an accident, or you were involved in an accident caused by another driver or their car, visit our knowledge center and schedule an appointment with a Nashville car accident attorney immediately to discuss your case. 

Related Resources

  • How to Get a Copy of the Car Accident Police Report in Tennessee
    How to Get a Copy of the Car Accident Police Report in…
  • How To Help Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus in Tennessee
    How To Help Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus in Tennessee
  • Hank Williams’ Daughter Killed in Tennessee Car Accident
    Hank Williams’ Daughter Killed in Tennessee Car Accident
Nationwide Toll Free: (800) 637-7024
Nationwide Toll Free
800.637.7024

Search

Categories

  • Advocacy
  • Auto Accidents
  • Community
  • Inadequate Security
  • Injury
  • Legislation
  • Medical Device
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Product Failures
  • Safety
  • Tennessee
  • Trucking Accidents
  • Wrongful Death

Archives

Tags

auto safety aviation accidents birth injury boating accidents boating safety brain injury car accidents child safety civil lawsuits community events court rulings covid-19 defective medical products defective products distracted driving DUI food safety hip replacement lawsuits medical malpractice medical malpractice cases medical product failures meningitis outbreak motorcycle accidents negligence nursing home abuse pedestrian accidents personal injury personal injury lawsuits pharmaceutical liability playground safety premises liability prescription errors product liability attorneys product recalls product safety lawsuits slip & fall Tennessee malpractice lawyer Tennessee truck accidents Tennessee truck accident safety regulation tort law tractor trailer accidents train accidents truck accident settlements workers' comp wrongful death

Membership badges

Gilreath & Associates
KNOXVILLE
Bank of America Center
550 Main Ave
Suite 600

Knoxville, TN 37902
United States
865-637-2442
Gilreath & Associates
MEMPHIS
One Memphis Place
200 Jefferson Ave
Suite 711

Memphis, TN 38103
United States
901-527-0511
Gilreath & Associates
NASHVILLE
The Stahlman Building
501 Union St
Suite 400

Nashville, TN 37219
United States
(865) 637-2442
  • SidGilreath.com
  • Find us on Facebook

The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

Law Firm Web Design & Marketing Services by SEO Advantage, Inc.™


Gilreath & Associates: Tennessee Enjuris Partner Attorney


Tennessee Personal Injury Lawyers at Gilreath & Associates offer free and personal consultation to help you evaluate your legal options.
Our attorneys are dedicated to helping you recover financially from an injury stemming from someone else's negligence.