Toyota Settles Suit over Death from Acceleration Malfunction
The New York Times reports that the automaker Toyota has reached an out-of-court settlement with the relatives of a family that was killed in an automobile accident involving one of their cars. According to the report, their Lexus sedan sped out of control due to a sudden acceleration problem. Toyota did not reveal the amount of the settlement but did confirm that a settlement was reached.
The accident named in the suit occurred one year ago when off-duty Highway Patrol officer Mark Saylor could not stop the vehicle from accelerating. The vehicle reached speeds of up to 120mph at one point. The vehicle later collided with another on the highway and landed in a ravine nearby. The 45-year-old police officer died as well as his wife, 45-year-old Cleofe Saylor, and their 13-year-old daughter. In addition, Cleofe Saylor’s brother died in the accident as well. The report reveals Toyota eventually recalled roughly 8 million vehicles total following this and several other incidents. According to the report, Toyota could potentially lose billions if they lose any other lawsuits that may be filed against them.
Although the lawsuits that Toyota has faced obviously demonstrate negligence on their part to properly repair or maintain certain vehicles, their compliance with any settlements and recalls shows their good faith in trying to remedy the situation. While settlements may alleviate the financial damage that these accidents cause, it will never alleviate the loss of loved ones that the victims in these incidents suffer. That is the biggest loss that these automobile accidents cause.
