auto product liability
Toyota Pays More Than $1 Billion to Settle Lawsuits
Late December brought important news for people who filed claims against Toyota Motor Corp. for accidents, injuries and deaths in connection with sudden, unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. Earlier this month, we blogged about a $17.35 million fine filed against Toyota by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration for reacting slowly to floor mat problems in some Lexus vehicles. That fine has now been dwarfed by a record $1 billion payout by Toyota to settle hundreds of lawsuits filed by owners who said that the value of their Toyota vehicles plummeted after the automaker issued recalls to correct unintended acceleration problems. The settlement came as a surprise to James O. Cunningham and other Orlando Toyota recall accident attorneys, as it is unprecedented in its size. It is the largest in U.S. history that involves product liability in automobiles.
Chrysler Recalls Jeep Wranglers for Fire Risk
Chrysler has announced the recall of nearly 87,000 Jeep Wranglers throughout North America and some other parts of the world due to a design defect that may result in fire. The recall only affects 2010 Wranglers equipped with automatic transmissions that were manufactured before July 14, 2010. According to Chrysler and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a design flaw can allow debris to collect between the protective plate covering the transmission and the catalytic converter. If enough debris collects between the plate and converter, the heat emanating from the converter can cause a fire.