Toyota Sudden-Acceleration Trial Set for February 2013

On November 5, 2010, Paul Van Alfen’s 2008 Toyota Camry suddenly and uncontrollably accelerated, crashing into a wall near an exit ramp on I-80. Van Alfen slammed on the brakes but the Toyota Camry did not stop. Van Alfen was killed in the crash, passenger Charlene Lloyd died the next day, and his wife and son were both seriously injured.

U.S. District Judge James V. Selna has set the Van Alfen’s sudden-acceleration case against Toyota Motor Corp. for trial in February 2013, as the first bellwether trial against Toyota for a sudden acceleration like this one. Robert A. Krause and The Spence Law Firm, LLC, represent the Van Alfen family in their case against Toyota.

The Van Alfen’s case against Toyota is based partially on the automaker’s failure to include a brake override system or device to stop inadvertent acceleration. A Toyota recall on the brake override system was not completed when Van Alfen took his Camry into the dealership (for a previous recall for sticking accelerators) prior to the accident. This product defect in the Toyota caused Van Alfen’s vehicle to continue speeding down the exit ramp even as the driver attempted to stop the car by slamming on the brakes.

For more information about the Van Alfen case, or other sudden acceleration problems, contact The Spence Law Firm at (844) 477-3623.