Legal News

The New York Times reports that the Transportation secretary Mr. Ray LaHood told Toyota drivers that they should stop driving their recalled Toyota vehicles until they can be repaired at a Toyota dealership.

According to the New York Times, Mr. LaHood was very strong in his words about the defective Toyota vehicles. He told the panel: ?We need to fix the problem so people don?t have to worry about disengaging the engine or slamming the brakes on or put it in neutral."

The words come after news that the Japanese government has requested Toyota to investigate brakes on their Prius hybrid models. Those particular vehicles seem to stop braking if they are driven at low speeds. As a result of this possible investigation, Mr. LaHood made it very clear that he would like to have a talk with the president of Toyota, Akio Toyoda. Mr LaHood is quoted by the New York Times as saying, ?I?m going to take the initiative to have a conversation with Mr. Toyoda very soon, to talk to him about how serious this is, and to make sure that he understands. I think he understands, but I?ve never talked to him. I just feel like I need to have a conversation with him.?

Toyota has recently come under fire for its cars suddenly accelerating. As a result, there are class action lawsuits pending that claim that Toyota's electronic throttle is to blame for the accidents. In fact, Representatives Henry A. Waxman and Bart Stupak have sent a letter to Mr. James E. Lentz III, the President of Toyota Motor Sales USA which requests that Toyota provide documents that illustrate that the computer systems on the defective cars are not at fault.

Toyota claims that it will do whatever it can in order address concerns with its vehicles. Toyota's spokeswoman, Martha Voss told the New York Times: ?We will of course cooperate with the committee?s inquiry.?

Related Resources:

• Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to call Toyota president (The Christian Science Monitor)
• Toyota Throttle at Fault in 2009 Recall? (FindLaw's Injured)
• More Toyota Recalls Over Accelerator Pedal Sticking Issues (FindLaw's Common Law)
• Personal Injury from Defective Products (provided by Arye, Lustig & Sassower, P.C.)
• The High Cost of Product Defects (provided by The Law Offices of Smith & Doran, PC)
• Products Liability Resources (provided by Harris & Harris Lawyers)