Auto Industry Getting Called To The Carpet - Consumer Outrage Growing
Since 1979, I have successfully represented injured consumers against major automobile manufacturers on behalf of clients who sustained catastrophic injuries or fatalities as a result of defectively designed cars. Unbelievably, there is not a single government group that has responsibility for assuring the public that cars and trucks are safe similar to the situation as it exists with the Food and Drug Administration or the FAA who extensively test products before they hit the market.
In the last month, Toyota has recalled in excess of 8.5 million cars and evidence reveals that Toyota was well aware of numerous defects in these vehicles for many years as was the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As a matter of fact, State Farm Insurance Company noted that it warned the federal government about a disturbing trend of vehicle caused accidents involving Toyota Motor Corporation as far back as 2007. The insurer stated that it contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in late 2007 and had been in touch with a regulator an unspecified number of times since then.
Last summer a former Toyota lawyer alleged that Toyota had concealed evidence from courts and from the government in a systematic and ruthless fashion. Toyota’s marketing experts were quite adept at portraying an image of integrity and social conscious with the Prius. Unfortunately, actions speak louder than words and perhaps once and for all the concerted efforts of trial lawyers and the outrage of consumers will be enough to generate support for true and realistic safety regulation in the automobile industry.
This experienced automobile defect lawyer who has fought for clients who have sustained catastrophic injuries or fatalities for many years would like to see a system where vehicles have to pass regular safety tests prior to entering the marketplace and have their designs examined by government regulators with teeth similar to the FDA prior to entry to the marketplace. The car is no different than a new drug being introduced to market for the safety of precious lives.
