Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA) Lawyers in Chicago 

Sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) is a vehicle defect that occurs when a vehicle is unable to slow down or stop due to electronic failure or something in the way of the pedals, such as an insecure floor mat. In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received 166 complaints regarding SUA. Although these incidents were reported to occur in more than 22 different vehicle brands, Toyota and Lexus vehicles were responsible for over 33 percent of all sudden unintended acceleration complaints. In fact, Toyota had more SUA reports than GM, Honda, Nissan and Chrysler combined.

Damages Can Be Fatal

Tragically, when sudden unintended acceleration occurs, it typically has severe, if not fatal, consequences, as drivers are usually unable to get control of the vehicle and the car eventually crashes. More 300 people are killed and over 5,400 are injured in SUA accidents each year, according to NHTSA.

Given the severity of these types of auto accidents, as well as the fact that they are usually caused by an auto manufacturer's negligence, injured parties will most likely have a legal claim against the maker of their car, allowing them to seek compensation for their injuries and losses. If you or a loved one has been injured in an SUA accident, or if you have lost a loved one in such a crash, contact the highly qualified personal injury lawyers at Pfaff & Gill, Ltd.

Leading Illinois Sudden Unintended Acceleration Attorneys

Since 1991, our esteemed legal team, headed by Brad Pfaff, has been committed to aggressively representing the rights of car accident victims throughout the state of Illinois. Mr. Pfaff is only one of two attorneys in Illinois who has the elite distinction of winning more than four settlements over $10 million for his clients. Michael T. Gill and Matthew D. Ports, both named “Rising Stars” by SuperLawyers, along with a staff of highly skilled paralegals and various specialists complete our legal team that is dedicated to helping the injured and their families.

Car Manufacturers' Response to SUA Reports

Reports of sudden unintended acceleration have been in U.S. headlines for about 30 years. In fact, throughout the 1980s alone, there were more than 1,000 SUA reports filed with the NHTSA. Some of the most recent incidences of SUA include:

• In September 2009, Pismo Beach, California: A man was injured and his wife was killed when their Camry suddenly accelerated, failed to stop and drove over a cliff into the surf.
  
• In August 2009, San Diego, California: A family of four (including a California Highway Patrol officer) dies when the floor mat caught and forced down the accelerator in their Lexus, causing the car to suddenly accelerate and ultimately crash into an embankment.

In response to such tragedies, some auto makers have issued recalls to fix faulty electronic systems and to secure floor mats. In fact, in response to the above-mention August accident, Toyota recalled 3.8 million vehicles the following month, as they were all suspected of having defective floor mats. The specific makes and models recalled by Toyota last year include:

• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2004-2009 Prius
• 2007-2010 Lexus ES350
• 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350
• 2005-2010 Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Tundra

SUA Accident Lawsuits & Settlements

Victims of SUA crashes, as well as families of those killed by SUA accidents, will most likely have a legal right to collect compensation for losses such as:

• Funeral and burial costs, in the event of an SUA fatality
• Outstanding medical bills
• Ongoing treatment costs
• Permanent disabilities
• Lost wages during recovery
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering

We are here to help victims recover compensation for their injuries and losses. At Pfaff & Gill, Ltd., our legal team is committed to helping victims get through the legal process as efficiently and painlessly as possible. For more information about your potential case, contact a lawyer that is experience with sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) litigation today.

Click on the Practice Areas below to learn more...

Vehicle Related Cases

• Automotive Defects
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Car Accidents
• Truck Accidents

Causes: Seat Belt Injuries - Tire Blow Out - Seat Back Failure - Sudden Unintended Acceleration

Personal Injuries

• Personal Injuries
• Construction Accidents
• Sexual Assault

Birth Injuries

• Birth Injury
• Cerebral Palsy

Medical Malpractice and Neglijence

• Medical Malpractice
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia

Defective Products

• Unsafe Products

Wrongful Death

• Wrongful Death

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• Bruce Pfaff recently reached a $9,000,000 settlement in a product liability case with the manufacturer of a garage door that catastrophically failed and trapped a 4-year-old boy under the door.  Read more.
• Bruce Pfaff recently co-authored an article in the CBA Record entitled, "The Right to Submit Questions to Jurors."