In 2008 alone, 37,261 people died in car accidents on our nation’s roadways and more than 2 million people suffered accident-related injuries. The good news is that fatalities are down more than nine percent from 2007, and last year traffic related deaths hit an all time low since 1961.

This tells us that cars are safer. It also tells us that regardless of the intent or mind frame of the driver, accidents still happen and there may be hidden dangers in your car unbeknownst to most drivers.

For instance, have you ever considered your car mats a danger?

There was an accident in California this summer that killed four people. The cause? The driver’s all-weather floor mat got caught under the pedals, jamming the gas pedal to the floor. The driver was an off-duty police officer and he was driving a Lexus – a good car and he was a presumed safe driver.

You can view an MSNBC story of the California accident here - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/32950076#32950076

The problem with car mats lies in the size of the mat and the hooks placed under the seats that prevent the mats from moving around. If these hooks are missing, broken or aren’t fastened correctly it’s easy for mats to slip around and possibly get stuck under the brake and gas pedals.

Another problem lies in after-market floor mats. Many of the standard mats you can buy don’t come with any fasteners to hold them in place, giving them a tendency to slip forward.

To ensure you have the right mats in your car, always use mats provided by the car’s manufacturer.

Because of the accident in California, Toyota ordered 1,400 Toyota and Lexus dealers to inspect cars for mismatched floor mats and proper installation. Toyota is also putting car wash attendants, independent inspectors and others on alert to check floor mats to ensure they are the right size and installed properly.

To ensure customer safety, Toyota announced this week that it is recalling 3.8 million vehicles because of the floor mat issues. This includes some of Toyota’s most popular models – Camry and Prius, and some models of Lexus. This marks the Japanese company’s largest U.S. recall to date.

So where do legal issues fall into place with car mats?

If you have an accident due to faulty car mats, fasteners or installation and the manufacturer provided the mat, there may be a broader product liability issue at hand. If you are not sure of the cause, there are ways to find out.

Car safety is a top priority for manufacturers, and carmakers have a lot at stake if the cars they build put drivers and passengers in harms way. We encourage your thoughts and comments on this issue.

If you’ve had problems with car mats slipping, or sticking under your pedals, make sure you let your dealership know. A proactive approach is the best way to ensure safety on the road.