What Is Sudden Unintended Acceleration?

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 unsecured 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 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.

We Can Help You Fight Back

We are here to help victims recover compensation for their injuries and losses through product liability claims. At Pfaff, Gill & Ports, 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 who has experience with sudden unintended acceleration litigation today. Call us at 312-638-2407.

Since 1991, our esteemed legal team, headed by Pfaff & Gill, Ltd. Trial Lawyers, has been committed to aggressively representing the rights of car accident victims throughout Illinois. Mr. Pfaff is one of only two attorneys in Illinois with the elite distinction of winning more than six verdicts over $10 million for his clients.

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 than 300 people are killed and over 5,400 are injured in SUA accidents each year, according to the 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 & Ports, Ltd.

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. More 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) died 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 automakers have issued recalls to fix faulty electronic systems and to secure floor mats. In fact, in response to the above-mentioned August accident, Toyota recalled 3.8 million vehicles the following month, as they were all suspected of having defective floor mats.

SUA Accident Lawsuits And 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: