SEATTLE, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, a consumer-rights law firm, is investigating claims that Toyota (NYSE: TM - News) Tacoma models manufactured between 2005 and 2009 have defective airbags following an official recall of more than 495,000 trucks.
Toyota disclosed on March 7, 2012, that it had found an issue in Tacoma models manufactured between 2005 and 2009 which the company said may prevent airbags on the driver's side from inflating in the event of a crash.
Specifically, Toyota announced that friction between two components could cause a loss of connectivity with the driver's airbag. This could prevent the airbag from deploying in a collision.
Hagens Berman is investigating whether Toyota knew about this issue before the recall.
"We find it surprising that Toyota only just now disclosed an issue that impacts Tacoma models that are now seven years old," said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman. "If Toyota was aware of this issue and chose not to inform the public, we believe it may be liable for injuries that consumers suffered as a result."
Toyota Tacoma owners and lessees may be eligible to bring legal claims, either because they suffered injuries when the airbag failed to deploy, or because the disclosure of the defect may reduce the values of their vehicles, incurring an economic loss.
The firm is currently co-lead counsel in the sudden, unintended acceleration (SUA) litigation. That suit alleges that Toyota knew about instances of SUA but failed to act to protect consumers.
The firm encourages those who purchased Toyota Tacomas manufactured between 2005 and 2009 to contact the firm. Hagens Berman attorneys can be reached for a consultation by calling (708) 628-4949 or by emailing Toyotaairbags@hbsslaw.com.
More information can be found at www.hbsslaw.com/toyotaairbags.
About Hagens Berman Seattle-based Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP represents workers, whistleblowers, investors and consumers in complex litigation. The firm has offices in Boston, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Founded in 1993, HBSS continues to successfully fight for investor rights in large, complex litigation. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. Visit the firm's class-action law blog at www.classactionlawtoday.com.