In our last post we talked about defective vehicles, and mentioned the Toyota situation as an example. Since that blog, a lot has happened. Not only has the Toyota defective vehicle situation reached a startling and historic conclusion, but now General Motors is on the hot seat with the government and consumers. But first, some background:
In 2009 and 2010 Toyota cars were reported to be suffering from a defect which caused them to spontaneously accelerate, without the driver’s pressing the gas pedal. The scandal, which actually caused the president of the Japanese auto-maker to personally apologize, was not only a result of the problem itself, but also due to the fact that the company waited to recall the affected vehicles, putting additional drivers in danger. Because of the defect, Toyota faced numerous lawsuits, including a criminal probe by the U.S. government. The company recently settled with the government for $1.2 billion.
This striking settlement comes just as another major auto-maker, General Motors, is undergoing its own scandal. In its case, GM also failed to recall cars which seem to have been defective, leading to over a dozen deaths. After the hefty sum paid out by Toyota due to its defective vehicles, it seems that General Motors is also going to have to pay out millions, if not billions, of dollars as a result of lawsuits over its defective vehicles.
Major auto manufacturers must be held accountable for any defective cars or trucks they produce and sell. If you have been injured due to a defective Toyota, GM car or truck, or any other auto accident, call the the Sandy accident attorneys at 866-322-2243 or contact us online today for a free consultation. We have the experience and expertise needed to help you recover for your losses.
