NHTSA Complaint #10643035 — 2005 TOYOTA RAV4

I WAS PARKING, 10 MINUTES EARLY, ENTERING THE SPOT AT ABOUT 1 MPH, MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. MY CAR LURCHED OVER A LARGE CURB AND LAUNCHED ITSELF INTO A BUILDING. AS IT WAS LURCHING INTO THE BUILDING, I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND PULLED ON THE PARKING BRAKE WITH MY RIGHT HAND AND ARM. THESE ACTIONS STOPPED THE CAR AS IT CRASHED INTO THE GLASS AND METAL FRONT WINDOWS. I HAD BEEN DRIVING WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENTS, NOT EVEN A TICKET, FOR 38 YEARS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I HAD TOYOTA INSPECT THE CAR. THEIR FINDING WAS THAT THE "ACCELERATOR PEDAL OPERATED SMOOTHLY AND RETURNED TO ITS IDLE POSITION WITHOUT ANY STICKING OR HESITATION," AND THAT THE INSPECTOR "WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE YOUR CONCERN." I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS DETERMINES ANYTHING WITH REGARD TO THIS ACCIDENT. I DO KNOW THAT MY EXPERIENCE AS A DRIVER AND MY ABILITY TO STOP THE CAR KEPT THIS ACCIDENT FROM BEING FAR WORSE. AS A RESULT OF MY ACTIONS TO STOP THE CAR, MY RIGHT ARM SUFFERED SEVERE NERVE DAMAGE. I STILL BELIEVE TO THIS DAY THAT THIS WAS AN INCIDENT OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR