Sudden Unintended Acceleration and Runaway Cars Often Presents A Mystery To Investigators - Was It Driver Error or Car Malfunction?
As an experienced automotive product liability lawyer who has successfully prosecuted sudden unintended acceleration cases and other automotive product defects since the late 1970s, I am often aware that the automobile manufacturers attempt to blame the problem or situation on driver error. In fact, I currently own a BMW vehicle that has suffered from sudden acceleration on more than 5 occasions and yet the dealer is unable to replicate the problem. At first I thought when my wife complained about the problem, she was crazy or paying too much attention to the recent Toyota media deluge. However, I had a sudden, unintended acceleration event happen to myself on 2 occasions and yet the dealer suspiciously claims there is no issue with the car at all.
In the mid-1980s Audi also had a problem where consumers stated that their Audi 5000 were uncontrollably accelerating and there had been a number of deaths and accidents. As a result, the U.S. government undertook an enormous study of sudden acceleration. The conclusion of the 1980s report was unwavering that the problem was really driver error - people not cars. I can understand how the average individual can believe that someone panics at the wheel and hits the gas instead of the brakes just as I had assumed that my wife had done the same. However, the recent events concerning Toyota and Mark Saylor, the off duty police officer who experienced a deadly episode of sudden acceleration, precipitated an investigation Toyota claims may have been the turning point for changing opinion. Police officer Saylor calmly made a phone call to explain his problem that was recorded across the airways. It became the big story on the 24 hour cable news networks and papers. One thing is for certain, that with the deluge of publicity and the government and devoted attorneys committed to the cause of improving driver safety, we may finally get to the heart of the sudden unintended acceleration mystery.
The automotive product liability and Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily have long been committed to consumer safety and have steadily fought manufacturers who place profits over consumer safety. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident resulting from sudden unintended acceleration, please feel free to contact one of our experienced lawyers at 1-800-421-9595 for a free no obligation consultation or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
