Attorney Group Says Litigation Spurs Innovation in Vehicle Safety Features, Regs

An association of plaintiffs’ attorneys April 22 said that the Toyota sudden-acceleration debacle illustrates how the civil justice system, when called upon through litigation, spurs motor vehicle innovation and enforcement of safety standards.

A report by the American Association for Justice underscores how similar vehicle design defect litigation since the 1960s has revealed “previously concealed defects and regulatory weaknesses, and deferred manufacturers from cutting corners on safety for the goal of greater profits.” The report predicts that suits brought against Toyota for sudden unintended acceleration will improve the company’s general approach to consumers and safety concerns.

“Runaway Toyotas may be ...