Toyota Works Toward Settlement for Sudden Acceleration Deaths
Years after the controversy began, Toyota is still dealing with defective e-throttle system issues. Toyota is now gathering its legal advisors and working towards a global settlement to deal with a second group of sudden acceleration death and injury cases.
In 2005, a jury found that the company acted with “reckless disregard” in taking action to deal with reported acceleration issues in their Camrys. In 2013, Toyota massed its resources to finance a major settlement a mere 60 days after an Oklahoma jury found the e-throttle system in Toyota’s Camry to be defective.
The cars involved in the claims suddenly accelerated without warning or apparent cause. Many of their drivers, unable to control the runaway vehicles, crashed, suffered serious injuries or died. A number of lawsuits were pending in California until a judge put them on hold (as the company and its lawyers made attempts to settle them).
The first of more than 200 lawsuits was slated for court in March 2014. The suits remained in place in spite of the fact that first three cases were resolved in favor of the defendant (Toyota).
However, when the company lost its 2013 Oklahoma case, circumstances changed. Toyota could lose a substantial amount of money if the remainder of the 200 cases proceeded to trial losses, so the company recently decided to negotiate settlements.
These settlement developments represent good news for the hundreds of plaintiffs involved in talks and lawsuits with Toyota, but those plaintiffs are still struggling to keep current with their overwhelming medical bills. How are those individuals going to pay bills on time as they wait for a resolution? Many of them may find that litigation funding offers the perfect option. A lawsuit loan is often a major benefit to plaintiffs who, once approved, find virtually instant funds that allow them to stay out of debt.
Plaintiffs are not required to go through a credit check, do not need to be working when they apply, do not make any payments up front/monthly and do not have to take any settlements from insurance companies. Should their cases lose in court, they are also eligible to keep any lawsuit loan monies advanced to them. There are no strings attached. While pre-settlement funding is not for everyone, it appeals to many caught between a rock and a hard place. Often, the emergency lawsuit loan is a perfect solution for a cash-poor plaintiff facing regular bills and unexpected medical expenses.
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