Toyota Sequoia Explodes Into Flames

A accident involving a 2010 Toyota Sequoia occurred near the intersection of Florrie Mae Lane and Parrish Grove Road. The accident involved 59-year-old Donnie Morgan. The accident happened at approximately 2:40 p.m. The Tampa Bay Times article states that the vehicle left the roadway for unknown reasons, striking a fence, and hitting posts. After the vehicle came to a stop, it exploded into flames. Mr. Morgan did not survive. Alcohol was reported to have not been a factor in the accident.

We will likely never know why Mr. Morgan's Toyota Sequoia left the roadway. He could have had a mechanical function, fell asleep, or may have been distracted. Regardless, the vehicles that we drive are supposed to be designed and manufactured so that the worst elements of danger are minimized. At present, Florida allows evidence of how or why the accident occurred in a case for crashworthiness against a vehicle manufacturer. The purpose of this evidence is to add an element of "clean hands" to those plaintiffs who ask for damages due to a design or manufacturing defect in their vehicle. Likewise, if a plaintiff was injured or killed in an accident involving intoxication, the plaintiff would then have "unclean hands" for which the manufacturer would be able to tell a jury that the accident was caused by the plaintiff's own intoxication. A car manufacturer would likely defect a product liability claim for crashworthiness by saying that the vehicle was not intended or designed to handle an impact of this severity as the government only mandates testing and design parameters up to a certain speed. Further, reasonable alternative designs may not be feasible. Even though gasoline can explode and there is not a feasible alternative fuel, there are things that the manufacturer of a motor vehicle can do to minimize or virtually eliminate the risk of a fire or explosion when a crash happens. After all, Ford was successfully sued over the Pinto many years ago because the fuel tanks were placed behind the rear axle resulting in fires or explosions upon even a modest rear end impact. It seems slightly odd that a 2010 Toyota would explode into flames the way this accident is reported. What we are unable to know is how fast the Sequoia was going prior to the crash. If the vehicle was merely going regular highway speed, there may be a valid product liability or crashworthiness claim because the car is designed to be used at highway speeds even if the government does not crash test at those speeds. On the other hand, if the vehicle was traveling at an excessive rate of speed, then it makes the manufacturer's defense more plausible as evidence will be presented that the driver acted reckless and that a vehicle cannot be designed to withstand such an impact.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a defective product, please contact a Lakeland product liability lawyer for a free consultation.

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