US Secretary of Transportation Retracts Toyota Statement

This article published in the New York Times recently reports that Ray LaHood, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has retracted a statement that he made recently regarding Toyota automobiles and the company’s massive recall of many models. The statement that caused LaHood to issue his clarification was one that he made recently, telling Toyota owners to “stop driving it, take it to a Toyota dealer because they believe they have a fix for it.”

At a news conference, LaHood tried to distance himself from his remarks, “What I said in there was obviously a misstatement” and that his intent was to urge Toyota owners, who are understandably very concerned about the safety of their vehicles, to take them to a Toyota dealership and have them checked out. In a statement issued by the DOT, Mr. LaHood said, “I want to encourage owners of any recalled Toyota models to contact their local dealer and get their vehicles fixed as soon as possible.”

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.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.