SmartHomeOwners

LOS ANGELES: Seven insurance companies are suing Toyota Motor Corp. in an attempt to recover money paid to cover crashes they blame on sudden acceleration.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the insurers seek damages in excess of $230,000 from 14 crashes throughout the United States. The lawsuits were filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The insurers cite data that blames 725 crashes on sudden acceleration and fault Toyota for failing to equip its cars with an override system that would cause a car to idle if the brake and gas were deployed simultaneously.

Toyota said Monday the lawsuits are without merit.

The companies in the lawsuit are American Automobile Insurance Co., Fireman's Fund Insurance, National Surety Corp., Ameriprise Insurance, IDS Property Casualty Insurance, Motorists Mutual Insurance and American Hardware Mutual Insurance.