There have been some discrepancies with lawsuits filed against Toyota, however. It seems that facts have been suppressed from many of the suits against the car maker, and that these facts may remove fault on Toyota's part. For instance, in one suit a driver was epileptic. Medical examiners were unsure of whether or not a seizure was the actual cause of the crash. In a different case, the driver suffered a stroke, and in another, an elderly man parked his car too close to the edge of an unstable cliff.

Unfortunately for Toyota, most of the cases offer no other outlet on which to place blame. Oklahoma resident Jean Bookout was injured in 2007 after her 2005 Toyota Camry collided into an embankment beside the interstate, even after she pulled the emergency brake. Bookout's best friend was in the car with her, she did not survive.

In August, California Highway Patrol officer Mark Saylor and his family were killed when the Lexus they were driving accelerated out of control. Relatives of Saylor filed a suit last week, which experts say will be tough for Toyota to defend. The 2009 Lexus had been a loaner from a dealership outfitted with thicker floor mats that were designed for another vehicle. The previous driver had also informed the dealer that the accelerator had become stuck while driving. The lawsuit has charged Toyota with product liability; the plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages.

Contact a lawyer at Atkins & Markoff if you have experienced an injury in any car accident, whether it be Toyota related or not.