[Harvey Specter]

B.C.'s auto insurance company is reviewing accident claims involving Toyota vehicles to see whether some of the problems that led to widespread recalls are to blame.

The Japanese automaker has recalled more than eight million vehicles since November because of reports the gas pedals stuck to the floor, causing sudden acceleration.

There is a special process now in place at the provincially owned Insurance Corporation of B.C. for customers whose claims involved a Toyota that's been recalled. Spokesman Mark Jan Vrem said a dedicated adjuster will review all Toyota files, examining the vehicle to look specifically at gas pedal and floor mat problems.

According to Jan Vrem, 20 customers so far have contacted the insurer to have their files reviewed, saying they believe the Toyota defect was responsible for their accident.

Those reviews may lead to legal action against Toyota to offset claims the insurer may have already paid out involving defective vehicles, he said.

"We are taking a look at legal action against Toyota. We have a duty to protect our customers," said Jan Vrem.

"Our investigators will be taking a careful look at claims that are already closed. They'll go back and take another look at claims that are already open to determine if in fact the sticking gas pedal or the floor mats were a contributing factor," he said.

http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=23554956.

[GabAlmighty]

Lol at "duty to protect our customers"

[!LittleDragon]

I'm surprised Timpo hasn't said a thing about this Toyota fiasco..

[J____]

lol ICBC, what a bunch of crap. They prolly doing this to try to get money for themselves. Ripping off BC drivers isn't enough, now it's time to rip off Toyota.

[!LittleDragon]

lol ICBC, what a bunch of crap. They prolly doing this to try to get money for themselves. Ripping off BC drivers isn't enough, now it's time to rip off Toyota.

They'd be reclaiming the money they already paid out for claims caused by Toyota cars.

[jlenko]

They'd be reclaiming the money they already paid out for claims caused by Toyota cars.

^ Exactly! And any pending and future claims... anything ICBC can do to save a buck.. makes good sense, if it was Toyota's fault in the first place.

If you think that ICBC is the only insurance company doing this.. oh boy.. it's probably happening at every single insurer across the planet. Toyota is in for another world of hurt once they discover more deaths...

[ericthehalfbee]

There was a fatal crash almost 1.5 years ago involving a Toyota that's part of the pedal recall. ICBC investigators thought there was a throttle related failure that caused the accident, but Toyota denied it. ICBC decided that instead of scrapping the car to seal it and put it into storage. Guess what they're doing now? Going over the car to see if the pedal is the problem, and if it is then they will go after Toyota for damages they paid out for the death involved.

ICBC now has 2 full time investigators going over all Toyota crashes that fit the profile of a stuck throttle. Now why do you think ICBC cares about accidents where they already paid out money? Simple, they want that money back and who do you think they're going to expect to pay that money?


Told ya...

[buddy]

Lol at "duty to protect our customers"

second that ...

They'd be reclaiming the money they already paid out for claims caused by Toyota cars.

isn't that obvious ...

[zulutango]

I have never seen a sticking gas pedal problem that can't be solved in less than 2 seconds by shifting into neutral. They should have owned a late 60's GM car where the motor mounts broke and the mechanical throttle linkages would jam wide open when the engine torque twisted. My 396/375 was infamous for it. Just hit neutral and replace the mounts. No congressional hearings back then.

[godwin]

No, electronics back then either. eg Modern automatic shift console (where nearly all of these accidents happened) is just an electronic pad, there is no direct to control to the transmission. You can put the stick into neutral all you want, but the if the transmission computer thinks you are not supposed to, you won't get neutral... There is no other way, short of smashing the transmission into bits, since the computer is literally embedded in the oil reservoir... when you are going 60mph in a FWD, that is a bit hard.

The issue is not just one computer, but the interaction of programming from computer in the gas pedal, the computer in the transmission and the keyless ignition computer.

I can see certain Toyota models will go up in premium. Short of being a stereotypical Asian driver (that needs to drive a golden/champagne colored Toyota).. there are plenty of other choices on the market... Guess want, stuff like this WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. The difference is how the companies deal with it. You see a ton of cultural differences here, where Asians consider "face" the ultimate currency.

I have never seen a sticking gas pedal problem that can't be solved in less than 2 seconds by shifting into neutral. They should have owned a late 60's GM car where the motor mounts broke and the mechanical throttle linkages would jam wide open when the engine torque twisted. My 396/375 was infamous for it. Just hit neutral and replace the mounts. No congressional hearings back then.

[moomooCow]

It seems that no matter where this is brought up, there's always a bunch of people who don't realize "putting it into neutral" doesn't work...

[JSALES]

http://9gag.com/photo/19120_500sq.jpg

[Mancini]

^ Exactly! And any pending and future claims... anything ICBC can do to save a buck.. makes good sense, if it was Toyota's fault in the first place.

If you think that ICBC is the only insurance company doing this.. oh boy.. it's probably happening at every single insurer across the planet. Toyota is in for another world of hurt once they discover more deaths...

Yup. It's called subrogation.

[Mancini]

I'm surprised Timpo hasn't said a thing about this Toyota fiasco..

He came through:

http://www.revscene.net/forums/icbc-investigate-toyota-t607501.html

[Blinky]

Lol at "duty to protect our customers"

ICBC recovers a sum from Toyota and decreases its claim costs. At the end of the year, reduced costs of paying out claims can be rolled into reducing (or reducing the increase) of the next year's premiums.

[fliptuner]

I have never seen a sticking gas pedal problem that can't be solved in less than 2 seconds by shifting into neutral. They should have owned a late 60's GM car where the motor mounts broke and the mechanical throttle linkages would jam wide open when the engine torque twisted. My 396/375 was infamous for it. Just hit neutral and replace the mounts. No congressional hearings back then.

Ha ha, exact same thing used to happen in my '66 Skylark 455. Busted mount, too much throttle, twist the motor and bind the linkage. Just had to drop in neutral, let the motor drop down and keep driving (with a lighter foot).

I understand what you guys are saying about the electronics working together. As someone who appreciates the "feel" of driving, I hope manufacturers continue building cars with such things as clutch pedals, manual gearbox's, throttle cables, on/off traction control...etc..

[josh t-1]

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj257/josh-t1/Revscene/tumblr_kye1wbH6xK1qzvqipo1_500.jpg

[StylinRed]

said this was going to happen...

but when are the toyota drivers' who were "at fault" going to sue for their losses and increased premiums ?

[jlenko]

when are the toyota drivers' who were "at fault" going to sue for their losses and increased premiums ?

That's next. Saw it on the news last night... a lady who got shafted by ICBC, who said it was her fault. She lost her licence because of it... ICBC gonna get theirs too!

[ericthehalfbee]

ICBC isn't concerned with all Toyota accidents. For example, parking lot accidents. In order for a throttle to stick, it first has to be depressed. There's no reason to depress your throttle (especially 1/2 or full throttle) when parking your car.

What they're concerned with are when people legitimately need to use throttle (like merging or passing) and the throttle sticks causing an accident.

I think a lot of Toyota owners are going to be upset when they realize this and that ICBC isn't going to give them any money back because they were too stupid to press the correct pedal when parking their car.