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Despite the admission by Toyota president, Akio Toyoda,
that the company may have mishandled the problem of gas pedals becoming
stuck, a recall on the Toyota Prius for braking problems has not
been issued. While admitting they are in the midst of a crisis,
rather than issuing a Toyota recall on selected vehicles, Mr.Toyoda
has sworn to implement higher standards of quality control. This
could prove to be just more ammunition for Toyota recall lawyers
to take into court with them should there be any future accidents
as a result of faulty workmanship by the Toyota manufacturer.
What Toyoda, the grandson of Toyota's founder who
took over in June of 2009, proposes is that he himself would become
the head of a special committee that will review customer complaints,
bring in experts from outside the company for advice, and review
checks within the company to come up with a solution to present
issues and prevent further problems in the future. Speaking at his
first news conference since the Toyota recall of 4.5 million vehicles
in January of this year, Toyoda issued an apology to his customers
for causing concerns in regards to their vehicles.
Considering Toyota has been at the top of the auto
industry for a long time in regards to the safety and longevity
of the vehicles they produce, this latest crisis has been no less
than shocking to many experts, as well as consumers. Considering
that gas pedals sticking is more than just a minor problem, you
have to wonder why a Toyota recall of possible defective vehicles
did not occur sooner. If not for the urging of the U.S.government,
you have to wonder if a recall would have occurred at all, and that
is the underlying problem that most experts and consumers really
have a problem with, and a question that will be posed by many Toyota
recall lawyers. When asked if the company should have reacted more
quickly, Toyoda's disturbing response was "I will do my best".
While Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration have blamed the gas pedal problem on sticky accelerators
and floor mats that have bent and pressed down on the gas pedal,
a report issued by Safety Research and Strategies Inc. of Rehoboth,
Mass., says the cause of the sudden acceleration could lie in the
electronics of the vehicle. Toyota, however, says they have investigated
that possibility and have not found that this could be a cause of
the problem. There were no new explanations offered for the braking
problems that seem to exist in the Prius by either Toyoda or the
head of quality control, Shinichi Sasaki.
Prius drivers, both in the U.S. and Japan, have complained
about a brief delay prior to the brakes kicking in, which Toyota
insists can be corrected with a change in software programming.
The company is still weighing it's options on how best to address
the problem, however. While it is not known when Toyota will make
a final decision, a couple of options they are considering are either
a total recall or notifying owners to bring their vehicle in for
repairs. While the company claims the problem has been fixed on
Prius models that are still waiting to be sold, there are 270,000
of these models purchased last year that have not had anything done
with them, bringing up the possibility that there could be a bigger
problem looming. Toyota recall
lawyers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
While the Toyota recall in the U.S. in regards to
gas pedal problems may be enough to satisfy some, there are still
others who will need more time to consider the company as reliable
and safe as it used to be. The lack of certainty in what to do in
regards to the problem, as well as what the cause of the problem
actually is, has tarnished the image of this once mighty automotive
giant, and much of the company's reputation going forward could
depend on how the company handles the situation in the coming weeks
and months.
Legal Services
A personal injury attorney helps replace what is lost. Sometimes,
however, there is no way that our clients will be in the same shape
that they were before. Under those circumstances, a lot more compensation
is necessary. We seek compensation for the loss of their abilities.
At the same time, we also seek a settlement or award that will cover
their future expenses. If a client has a brain injury or other permanent
physical handicap, we must consider what it will cost to obtain
physical accommodation and care over the long term.
Contact a Florida Toyota
Recall Attorney for a free consultation.
Se Habla Español
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Sheldon J. Schlesinger, P.A. represents clients throughout
the state of Florida including the cities of Boca Raton, Boynton
Beach, Carol City, Cooper City, Coral Gables, Coral Springs, Davie,
Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hialeah, Hollywood,
Jupiter, Lake Worth, Miramar, Miami, Oakland Park, Palm Beach, Palm
Beach Gardens, Palm Springs, Pompano Beach, and Rivera Beach
Broward County • Miami-Dade County • Palm Beach
County
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