Suit Filed Against Lexus In Carbon Monoxide Death
One of new high-tech features on Toyota’s luxury car, the Lexus, maybe deadly as well as nifty. The keyless ignition system is being linked to several carbon monoxide poison deaths when people leave the car running in the garage without knowing it because the engine runs so quietly.
This is the case in the death of a 79-year-old Queens’ attorney, reports the NY Daily News. In February 2009, his long time companion parked their new Lexus in the attached garage and accidentally left the engine running. The next day she was found unconscious on the bedroom floor and he was dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. Although she survived, she is unable to walk and has difficulty speaking.
In her lawsuit, she accuses Toyota of failing to install a “shutdown” switch in the cars – which can be turned on or off at the touch of a button. The switch would turn off the engine when the car is unoccupied or not touched for a certain amount of time. The problem at this time is the engine continues to run even after the driver leaves the vehicle with the key fob which communicates with the car’s computer.
Another investigation is still underway in Palm Beach County as to whether or not the August carbon-monoxide death of a 29-year-old woman was caused by the Lexus in her garage.
This is just one more problem for Toyota which has had to recall millions of vehicle for other problems such as pedals and accelerators that could stick.
As a personal injury attorney who is concerned when deaths occur which could have possibly been avoided, I hope Toyota can find a timely “fix” for this latest problem before any more deaths occur.
Labels: Automobile Accidents, Carbon Monoxide, Toyota, Wrongful Death, Wrongful Death AttorneyPosted by 5:14 pm