$11 Million Verdict Delivered in Wrongful Death Suit Over Toyota Camry Design Defects
The wrongful death lawsuit involved an accident in which a Toyota vehicle’s unintended acceleration caused the death of three people, and serious injuries to two others.
A Minnesota jury has ordered Toyota to pay $11 million in damages to the victims of a deadly car accident allegedly caused by design defects affecting a Toyota Camry that accelerated out of control. The verdict was announced by a jury in the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis on February 3, in the wrongful death lawsuit filed over the 2006 car accident, which killed three people and resulted in the driver, Koua Fong Lee, spending three years in jail, despite claims that he was unable to stop the car and avoid the collision. If you have been injured in a serious car accident caused by a defective auto part, our consumer advocates at the Leading Justice can help put you in touch with a qualified lawyer who has experience handling product liability claims.
Lawsuit Seeks Compensation from Toyota
Koua Fong Lee, the driver of the Toyota Camry involved in the deadly accident in 2006, was released from prison in 2010, only after a series of Toyota recalls were announced over problems with unintended acceleration that affected approximately 10 million vehicles. Once it was discovered that Lee’s Camry was one of the vehicles likely affected by the unintended acceleration defect, the conviction was set aside and he was released from jail. Now, Koua Fong Lee, members of his family, the family of a six-year-old child killed in the car accident, and two other people seriously injured in the wreck, are seeking compensation from Toyota for their losses.
Toyota Found 60% Responsible for Crash
During the three-week trial, Toyota claimed that Lee hit the gas instead of the brake, causing the fatal accident, but Lee maintained that his 1996 Toyota Camry actually accelerated out of control, making it impossible for him to stop the vehicle. After deliberations, the Minnesota jury determined that while Lee was 40% responsible for the accident, Toyota was 60% responsible, and ordered the company to pay $11 million in compensation to the plaintiffs. The ruling comes after Toyota was fined $66.2 million by the NHTSA for failing to address the unintended acceleration problems in a timely manner, and after the auto maker paid investors $22.5 million to resolve claims that the company attempted to conceal the design defect.
Contact a Reputable Car Accident Lawyer Today
As a result of unintended acceleration problems affecting millions of Toyota vehicles, at least $1.4 billion in settlements have reportedly been paid out by the car manufacturing company, including class action suits brought by Toyota and Lexus car owners who claimed that the value of their vehicles were reduced because of the design defects. A growing number of personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits have also been brought against the company, on behalf of those injured or killed in car accidents involving allegedly defective Toyota vehicles. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident allegedly caused by vehicle design defects, contact a reputable attorney today to explore your possible compensation options.
