During the announcement of the record fine, Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood claimed that his department had documentation that indicated that the company knew about the sticking accelerator problems late in September 2009, but did not issue a recall to remedy the problem until January 2010. The sticking accelerator recall affects 2.3 million Toyota cars, trucks and SUVs.

“We now have proof that Toyota failed to live up to its legal obligations,” LaHood said in a statement. “Worse yet, they knowingly hid a dangerous defect for months from U.S. officials and did not take action to protect millions of drivers and their families.”

Because the company allegedly knew about the safety problems and was slow to react, LaHood levied the maximum penalty allowable. The previous record fine from the Department of Transportation was issued in 2004 against General Motors for $1 million for faulty windshield wipers. Thus far, the Toyota Motor Company has been named in at least 138 potential class-action lawsuits over falling vehicle and company stock values and at least 100 personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits filed in federal courts across the country.

Under Florida law, the manufacturer and seller of a defective product is liable for any loss, injury or damage caused by the normal use of the defective product. Florida Toyota recall accident lawyer James O. Cunningham has been helping clients and families in product liability cases since 1977. He has the experience and resources to handle large cases like this, and he has earned the reputation of a tireless defender of his clients’ rights and someone who works hard to help each client receive the maximum compensation. If you have been injured or someone you care for has been injured or died due to a defective Toyota vehicle, contact Florida Toyota recall accident attorney James O. Cunningham today.

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LaHood pointed to massive recalls as proof that Toyota did not enjoy a privileged relationship with the U.S. Transportation Department, but many in government continue to question whether lax oversight contributed to problems that they say Toyota has been able to hide for quite a while.

Although there are a number of issues facing Toyota today, the main one seems to be sudden acceleration in many of its newer cars. Testimony Wednesday included questioning on a timeline for Toyota’s response, where internal documents seemed to indicate that the company had tended to minimize safety issues in order to retain profits.

At issue is Toyota’s previous denial that electronic throttle systems were responsible for sudden acceleration, where the company had blamed the problem on recalled floor mats. Under further scrutiny, officials found that floor mats were not responsible for the acceleration. Toyota now faces more controversy over a company that it hired to test the electronic throttle systems, which found no technical issues with the complex technology; even as evidence continues to mount that the electronic throttles played a role in the current recall situation.

Along with all of this frenzied fact-finding, which many feel paints a dark picture of Toyota, some consumer advocates and others were sharp in criticizing what they saw as a lack of remorse on the part of Mr. Toyoda, who took the stage without a lot of emotion to field questions from government representatives. According to official reporting, Toyoda continued to maintain through the end of his testimony that his company cars are safe for U.S. drivers.

As more details become available about the Toyota recall and the sudden acceleration of many of its cars, consumers are looking very critically at fancy new electronic systems, while questioning the future of Toyota and whether it deserves the highest safety marks and general popularity it has enjoyed for several decades in the North American market. U.S. government groups will continue to investigate safety threats related to the Toyota recall and any reported issues with its vehicles on the road.

The statements address accelerator problems so severe that Toyota has stopped selling eight of their most popular models entirely in an effort to uncover the cause of gas pedals that stick and accelerate out of control. It is estimated that the faulty gas pedals in Toyota vehicles has caused the deaths of at least 19 people in auto accidents and resulted in injuries for countless others.

LaHood’s department aggressively addressed the Toyota gas pedal recall and LaHood took credit recently when Toyota announced that they would stop building and selling the eight models involved in the recall. He claimed that Toyota did not take such drastic measures until he and his department urged the automaker to do so. At a recent press conference, he told reporters that he planned to call Toyota president Akio Toyoda personally regarding the recalls and the sticking gas pedals.

“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,” Mr. LaHood said. “I think he understands, but I’ve never talked to him. I just feel like I need to have a conversation with him.”

Toyota’s faulty accelerators have been cited as the cause of countless auto accidents in the U.S. that resulted in injuries, fatalities and loss. If you or someone you care for has been hurt or killed in an accident caused by a sticking accelerator, Orlando Toyota recall accident attorney James O. Cunningham may be able to help. He has represented victims and families affected by faulty products in product liability cases since 1977. He has the experience and resources to take on big corporations that cause harm people through defective products. To schedule a free consultation with Orlando Toyota recall accident lawyer James O. Cunningham, call his law offices today.