Toyota to Recall 3.8 Million Defective Floor Mats

Toyota is set to recall 3.8 million vehicles in the U.S., the company announced in a press release on Tuesday. The floor mats on the affected models may interfere with the accelerator pedal, causing the accelerator to become stuck while the vehicle is in operation. A stuck accelerator can result in high vehicle speed, which may cause the operator to lose control of the vehicle and crash. A San Diego crash that killed three people last month has been attributed to defective Toyota floor mats. Owners may begin receiving notifications of the recall as early as next week.

According to the press release, the following Toyota and Lexus models will be affected by the recall:

• 2007 - 2010 Camry
• 2005 - 2010 Avalon
• 2004 - 2009 Prius
• 2005 - 2010 Tacoma
• 2007 - 2010 Tundra
• 2007 - 2010 ES350
• 2006 - 2010 IS250 and IS350

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported over 100 incidents in which floor mats in the affected Toyota models caused the accelerator to stick. Owners of vehicles equipped with the defective floor mats are encouraged to remove the floor mats from the vehicle and refrain from installing replacement mats until the company remedies the problem.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident caused by a defective product, contact Atlanta accident lawyer Leigh R. Bodner at (404) 262-3343 for a free consultation regarding your case. Mr. Bodner handles all types of accident injury cases in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Austelle, Chamblee, College Park, Conyers, Decatur, Doraville, Duluth, Dunwoody, East Point, Hapeville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Riverdale, Rockdale, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Stockbridge, and throughout Gwinett County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, Clayton County, and Fulton County. Mr. Bodner is an Atlanta injury lawyer who works on a contingency fee basis, which means that you owe nothing unless you receive monetary compensation for your injuries.

School Bus Driver Charged in Fatal Accident

The driver of a school bus that ran over a kindergartner Tuesday afternoon has been charged with 2nd degree vehicular homicide. Sharon Denise Dale, 39, apparently lost track of one of the six children she had just let off the bus near Vanderbilt Court and Hobart Drive and began to pull forward, running over 5-year-old Everette Johnson with the front tire of the bus. The boy was rushed to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

This tragedy is a grim reminder of the extra caution that must be used by school bus operators. Of the 152 children that have died in school transportation crashes since 1997, 69% were killed by the school bus itself. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, in 57 percent of all crashes involving fatalities to occupants of a school transportation vehicle, the principal point of impact was the front of the vehicle. Typically, these accidents occur when the driver negligently pulls forward without first ensuring that all children have safely passed in front of the bus.

If your child has been injured or killed in a school bus accident, contact an experienced Atlanta accident lawyer at (404) 262-3343 for a free consultation regarding your case. Mr. Bodner handles all types of auto accident cases in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Austelle, Chamblee, College Park, Conyers, Decatur, Doraville, Duluth, Dunwoody, East Point, Hapeville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Riverdale, Rockdale, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Stockbridge, and throughout Gwinett County, Dekalb County, Cobb County, Clayton County, and Fulton County. Our Atlanta accident lawyers will not charge a fee unless you receive a favorable verdict or settlement in your case.