That National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has also been involved with this issue, and its preliminary investigations revealed that these floor mats, all of which are placed on the driver’s side, are too long for the space provided, which is what the agency believes is causing accelerators to stick to the floor and to unexpectedly bring these vehicles to dangerous speeds with little to no forewarning.

The models affected by this recall include:

• Toyota Camry – 2007-10 models
• Toyota Avalon – 2005-10 models
• Toyota Prius – 2004-09 models
• Toyota Tacoma – 2005-10 models
• Toyota Tundra – 2007-10 models
• Lexus ES 350 – 2007-10 models
• Lexus IS 250 - 2006-10 models
• Lexus IS 350 - 2006-10 models

Toyota and the government have advised all drivers of these models to immediately remove the floor mats from the driver’s side, and if the driver of any of these defective vehicles finds him or herself accelerating suddenly, he or she should push down on the brake pedal with both feet until the vehicle slows down to the point where it can be placed in neutral.  There are also models that have a start/stop engine button, and if that button is pressed for at least three seconds, it should cut the power to the engine and help to bring the vehicle to a stop.

The NHTSA has received more than 100 reports of problems regarding this issue, although it declined to report how many of these incidents involved accidents.  However, there has been one tragic report of a family of four that was killed near San Diego when their vehicle’s accelerator stuck to the floor, causing it to veer off the side of the road, roll over and burst into flames.  Four people were killed in the accident.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by a defective Toyota automobile, you need to contact the Toyota recall lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

According to WFRV TV:

“A two-car accident on Highway 41 near Scheuring Road left four people injured.. one of them in critical condition.

The accident occurred just before 10pm on Highway 41 northbound near Scheuring Road. Police say both vehicles were travelling northbound, when they made contact during a failed passing attempt.

Both vehicles went through the median & came to rest in the southbound lanes. One of the vehicles, an SUV, rolled several times during the crash.”

While it is not yet known how it will turn out for the person who was critically injured, the fact that there have not been any fatalities to this point is a very pleasant surprise, as SUV’s that roll over can trap the occupants inside and create even more danger if the roof caves in on top of them.  If you or someone you love has been injured or worse in an SUV rollover crash, you need to contact the auto accident lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation so that you can obtain the information you need regarding your legal rights and options.

According to the Indianapolis Star-Tribune:

“The passenger of a SUV was fatally injured in an early morning traffic accident on the Far Northside. The driver has been arrested for driving while intoxicated.  A Chevrolet Suburban was headed north in the 7900 block of Westfield Boulevard when the accident happened around 12:50 this morning, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. The driver lost control and the SUV rolled, ejecting the passenger. Knefler Jose, 18, 5800 block of North Pennsylvania Street, was declared dead at Methodist Hospital.

The driver, Maxwell J. Weerts, 18, 700 block of Nottingham Court, was not seriously injured. A police report said Weerts told investigators he swerved the SUV to avoid striking a deer.”

Clearly, the driver of the SUV faces serious legal consequences from prosecutors.  He could also face exposure to an enormous amount of civil liability for negligence and/or recklessness, and the issue of how the SUV rolled over is one that apparently has not yet been determined.

If you or someone you love has been injured or worse in an SUV rollover and/or a DUI accident, contact the accident lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

However, as more time passes, more troubling stories continue to emerge about perhaps the biggest problem with SUV’s in general - their tendency to roll over when they are involved in an accident, a circumstance that can easily lead to serious injuries and deaths.

That appears to be the case with an accident that occurred in Texas recently, according to KSAT in San Antonio:

“Police said a toddler was killed and five more people are in critical condition after a rollover accident in Atascosa County.

The accident occurred on state Highway 173 near Jourdanton.Three of the surviving crash victims were children, ages 2, 5, and 8. The other two survivors include a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old. All were thrown from the sport utility vehicle when it flipped over.One witness said she saw chunks of a tire being thrown prior to the accident.Accident investigators with the Department of Public Safety said they believe the driver lost control when the tread separated from the left front tire.The SUV flipped several times and ejected all six passengers, authorities said.”

In this situation specifically, it warrants mention that the occupants were not wearing safety belts.  In a legal sense, this clearly creates doubt as to whether those injured could recover from the vehicle’s manufacturer.  It should also tell everyone that if you’re riding in an SUV, buckle up.  If you do so and are still injured in a rollover crash, contact the accident lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.