A new federal report shows that auto product design defects may have played a part in a fatal San Diego car accident in August, which killed California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor and three members of his family. According to a news report in the San Diego Union-Tribune, federal investigators found that the loaner Lexus, which Saylor was driving, had an unsecured and incorrect floor mat that jammed the accelerator. The design of the gas pedal may have also contributed to the fatal car accident, the report said.

Faulty Mats Lead to Largest Toyota Vehicle Recall

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) report states that the plastic pedal, a rigid, single-piece lever, has no hinge and ” no means for relieving forces caused by interferences.” In the Lexus Saylor was driving, the bottom of the gas pedal had melted to the right corner of the mat. The car was traveling at 120 mph at the time of the crash. A month after that car accident, Toyota recalled 3.8 million sedans because of the defective floor mats that could cause unwanted acceleration.

A final report on this San Diego car crash is still being awaited, but several auto products liability issues involving these vehicles are being discussed. Many questioned why Saylor did not shift the car into neutral at the time and Toyota officials have remarked that Saylor could have shifted the gear to neutral and perhaps, avoided the crash. But now, there is doubt over whether that is even possible. Clarence Ditlow, who is the executive director for the Center for Auto Safety, says shifting the Lexus into neutral with a wide-open accelerator would have been “difficult at best.”

Auto Products Liability Issues

Ditlow says the configuration of the Lexus’ gear shift panel made it tough for a driver speeding down a crowded highway to spot neutral was without taking his eyes off the road. In this case, Ditlow says, Saylor has sacrificed his life to save others because he made a conscious attempt not to hit anyone else on the road although his life and his family members’ lives were in jeopardy.

Saylor’s is not the only incident involving these defective mats. The NHTSA reports that there were seven car crashes, 12 injuries and 40 complaints that involved the defective Toyota floor mats. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured as a result of these defective products, please contact a reputed California personal injury attorney, who has experience and a successful track record dealing with auto product defect cases. The best auto products liability law firms will offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured victims and their families.

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.