Toyota may have had “Silent Recall” in September 2007
By now millions of Americas know about the Toyota recall and the crash problems related to the acceleration. We all have heard reports about people being unable to stop their vehicles because the floor mats were not secure and got stuck under the accelerator causing it to be impossible to stop the speeding vehicle. Residents of Tennessee are no exception to these reports and this massive recall.
Many of us do not know however, that Toyota may have known about these problems in September of 2007 but it was only considered a “technical service bulletin” and only given to about 1,500 Toyota and Lexus dealers. Then in April of 2008 an almost identical bulletin was sent out cautioning that improperly installed floor mats could cause crashes in the Camry, Corolla, Matrix, Sienna, Tundra, Sequoia and Land Cruiser.
In both of these cases, the notices were told to Toyota dealers and to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and were more serious than the warnings given to the public. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had an agreement with Toyota to replace all weather related floor mats with new ones and make sure they were secure and will not slip under the accelerator. Drivers of the Prius hybrid and Avalon were also “strongly urged” to make sure their floor mats were secure. Even with all these warnings however, the risk of crashes and other danger were not mentioned.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating whether or not Toyota provided all the information that safety regulations require in a timely manner.
If you feel that you or your loved ones have suffered personal injury due to this recall, please contact a Tennessee personal injury attorney at the Higgins Firm right away. You can contact us online or call us at 800-705-2121 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.
Author Bio
Jim Higgins, founder of the Higgins Firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with deep roots in Nashville, Tennessee. A 4th generation Nashvillian, Jim carries on the legal legacy of his father, a judge for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Memphis School of Law, Jim’s career began on the other side of the courtroom, defending insurance companies and learning their tactics for minimizing settlements. However, he soon realized his true calling was fighting for the rights of the injured, and for the past several years, he has exclusively represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Since then, his dedication and skill have earned him membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have secured million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, Jim focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases. His exceptional work has been recognized by his peers, earning him a spot on the Super Lawyers list from 2021 to 2024, a distinction awarded to only a select group of accomplished attorneys in each state.
