Uncontrolled Acceleration

Acceleration Defect Attorney

Uncontrolled acceleration is also described as "unexplained acceleration" and "sudden acceleration." It may be described as a situation in which a vehicle speeds up or moves ahead without any action on the part of the driver. Many auto safety experts believe that a majority of uncontrolled acceleration cases go unreported. Part of the reason for these may be that many of these accelerations occur when the car is already moving along at a reasonably high speed. A large number of accidents in recent years have been linked to unexplained acceleration of a vehicle.

If you were driving your vehicle when it suddenly accelerated for no apparent reason and an accident occurred, you may be able to take legal action against the manufacturer. With a product liability lawsuit, you may be able to recover financial compensation that will cover medical bills, as well as future medical care, lost earnings, loss of potential earnings and even emotional trauma.

An auto product liability attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP can provide knowledgeable insight and aggressive legal representation for a claim involving acceleration defects. We handle product liability cases for clients throughout the United States and are fully committed to helping the injured seek justice. By holding negligent automobile manufacturers responsible for the defective auto parts they produce, we help those injured by these products rebuild and move on with their lives.

Auto Makers Deny Reports of Uncontrolled Acceleration

Toyota's line of 2006 and 2007 Tacoma pick up models has been the subject of an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over reports of uncontrolled acceleration. It was the fourth such sudden acceleration-related probe into Toyota vehicles in a span of 3 years. Drivers have complained of the engine revving up when the brakes were applied, leading to a potentially disastrous accident.

Another Toyota vehicle, the Prius Hybrid, has generated hundreds of complaints over uncontrolled acceleration. The company has recalled the vehicles and conducted an examination of the electronic software in these cars, but these investigations have proved inconclusive. In such cases, accidents have been avoided entirely because drivers have been able to control the vehicle, and prevent a crash. Meanwhile, complaints of uncontrolled acceleration with the Prius Hybrid continue to come in.

Ford Motor Company recalled its Ranger models after throttle defects lead to sudden acceleration of the car.

In most of these cases, auto manufacturers have refused to admit that any mechanical defect in the vehicle was responsible for the unexpected acceleration. They have blamed driver imagination instead, choosing to present the problem as one that exists purely in the mind of the driver. Several consumer safety experts however have charged that these incidents occur because of serious problems in the computer system software and electronic controls. Auto manufacturers have also been at a loss to explain why such reports of uncontrolled acceleration are restricted only to some models of automobiles, and not others. As auto safety advocates have rightly pointed out, a problem that is the product of a motorist's imagination would likely be found across all models of cars, instead of being restricted to a few.

Injuries Caused by Sudden, Unexplained Acceleration

The sudden acceleration of a car can lead to a serious accident when a motorist is unable to control the car due to such revving of the engine. The resulting injuries can be serious. As modern vehicles come with more sophisticated features, the possibility that these high tech systems conceal defects, especially in the software controls that they run on, is a very real one. Unfortunately, auto manufacturers are constantly focusing their energies on creating the next super car that will change the future of the industry, and introducing it as quickly as possible into the American market, without testing it properly.

Involve a Product Liability Lawyer

We know you may have various choices in legal counsel when faced with a product liability claim for uncontrolled acceleration or a similar auto part defect. There is no substitute for competence, however, and our track record of success in the field of injury law provides solid proof of our skill. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for the injured – find out how we can help you.

Contact a product liability lawyer for experienced help with a claim involving sudden acceleration.