New details in a federal report revealed a possible design flaw in the gas pedal which could increase the risk of the gas pedal getting obstructed by a floor mat. The Lexus ES 350 sedan in the car accident that caused the wrongful death of Mark Saylor and his family had that flaw.
The products liability in this accident concerns the floor mat installed in the Lexus was improperly installed. That floor mat could have been responsible for hindering proper function of the gas pedal. The malfunction caused the vehicle to speed up to 100 mph on Highway 125 in a San Diego suburb.
UPDATE: Toyota has issued a recall for defective accelerators.
Our San Diego personal injury attorneys blogged about the recall Toyota issued in response to the car accident. It was the largest recall in the history of the company spanning two car makers and eight car models.
CHP Officer Mark Saylor was off-duty when the Lexus ES 350 he was driving sped and crashed on Highway 125. The car accident was caused by a design flaw in the car's gas pedal. (SOURCE: San Diego 6)
Toyota has stated they have several solutions including an adjustment to the pedals or their overall design. In a fuzzy color photo, a report also mentions the rubber floor mat became “bonded” to the pedal’s bottom part. Federal investigators discovered the car in the accident had floor mats for a different car, which may have contributed to the crash.
Making sure cars have the right parts and accessories is important to ensure the car is working correctly. The gas and brake pedals are extremely important in cars, so making sure they work right is a high priority when companies consider designs for these things.
Any malfunction can cause a car accident that can lead to any number of injuries including whiplash or traumatic brain injuries. The worst automobile accidents can lead to wrongful deaths, which changes lives altogether.
According to another report done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the brakes were damaged. There were signs of wear and tear as a result of heavy braking against the whole force of the engine. That would explain a 9-1-1 call made by Saylor’s brother-in-law in which he said, “There’s no brakes.”
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is in charge of the investigation of the fatal crash, but they have not yet released a final report.
Our personal injury lawyers in San Diego know that car makers come out with innovative new designs for their cars every year. Some work out better than others, but some new designs have flaws that can result in car accidents that lead to injuries or wrongful death. If you have been personally injured in a car accident due to product liability then you will probably need assistance in finding the proper medical treatment that works for you .
Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney after you get into a car accident and find out how we can help you. We speak English and Spanish, and we look forward to providing advice for your case. No fee if no recovery.
Related posts:
- Toyota May Recall Prius Over Brake Issues
- Chrysler Learns from Toyota in Executing Their Recall
- Toyota Recall: ‘No Defect’ Despite CHP Officer Wrongful Death
- Toyota Recalls 3.8 Million Cars Over Faulty Floor Mats
- Toyota Investigating Other Causes Of Car Accidents
Tags: Mark Saylor, recall, Toyota
