Toyota has reportedly settled the first wrongful death lawsuit over unintended acceleration issues that occurred in 2009 and 2010 according to the Associated Press.
Click here to see the full report by the Associated Press.
The settlement is worth up to $1.4 billion for economic loss to affected vehicle owners. Toyota chose to settle instead of going to trial in a wrongful death suit relating to an accident that occurred in Utah in 2010.
The wrongful death suit involved Paul Van Alfen and Charlene Jones, who died on Interstate 80 near Wendorver, Utah according to the Associated Press. Alfen was driving when all-of-a-sudden the vehicle accelerated on its own. Skid marks were seen on the interstate proving that Alfen tried to stop but couldn't and as the vehicle drove through a stop sign at the bottom of the ramp and into a wall.
Alfen's wife and son were injured as well.
The 2010 incident and a few others caused Toyota to recall over 14 million vehicles. Toyota blamed driver error, stuck accelerator pedals, and a faulty floor mat for the issues.
"We sympathize with anyone in an accident involving one of our vehicles and we continue to stand fully behind the safety and integrity of Toyota's Electronic Throttle Control System, which multiple independent evaluations have confirmed as safe," Toyota said in a press statement.
The remaining lawsuits are not affected by the settlement according to Celeste Migliore, a Toyota spokeswoman.
Toyota has also reached an agreement in another case by a retired Los Angeles police officer named Michael Houlf. As the Los Angeles Times first reported, the case was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and brought under California's lemon law for vehicles.
The report didn't include how much Houlf received.
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