In 2009, California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor was driving in Santee with his wife, daughter and brother-in-law when the accelerator pedal in the Lexus ES 350 sport utility vehicle they were riding in became stuck. They reached speed upwards of 110 miles per hour before slamming into the back of a Ford Explorer waiting at a light, after which it became airborne and crashed, bursting into flames. Saylor and his family all lost their lives.
After the accident, Toyota issued a recall letter to owners of certain Toyota and Lexus models, including the Lexus ES 350. It informed owners that the floor mats in these vehicles could cause the accelerator pedal to stick, though it did mention that if the mats were compatible with the model and properly secured that the problem would not occur.
The vehicle Saylor was driving had all-weather floor mats that were later shown to slide forward and under the accelerator pedals of affected models, causing them to stick. In the months following Saylor's tragic motor vehicle accident, Toyota issued recall of millions of cars with faulty accelerator pedals.
The victims are seeking damages from Toyota and the dealership that loaned Saylor the Lexus ES 350 when Saylor's vehicle was in the shop.
They claim that Toyota knew about the accelerator pedal issues but let the problem continue unabated. The dealership, Bob Baker Lexus, has also been named in the suit, as it has been alleged to have incorrectly installed the all-weather floor mats that could cause acceleration problems.
The dealership claims that the cause of the accident was not able to be determined due to the severity of the damage, implying that the dealership is not accountable. Bob Baker Lexus settled with Saylor's family shortly after the accident for $10 million.
If you or a loved one has been in a crash involving a recalled vehicle, seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney.
