A Mercedes-Benz GLC's brake lights are on as a driver attempts to park the car at an apartment complex in Seoul, April 22, before the vehicle lunged into 12 other automobiles. Screenshot from online community

Mercedes-Benz is facing a 300 million won ($220,000) lawsuit from a Korean owner of the luxury German vehicle as well as a former janitor who quit his job after smashing the car into 12 other vehicles while attempting to park it at an apartment complex in Seoul, according to the plaintiffs' attorney, Friday.

Mercedes-Benz Korea CEO Mathias Vaitl

The plaintiffs claimed that the accident resulted from the sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) of the vehicle. They are also considering reporting Mercedes Korea CEO Mathias Vaitl to the police.

"We will file a complaint with the Seoul Central District Court next week against the German headquarters, as well as its Korean importer and dealership," said lawyer Ha Jong-sun of law firm Naru, who specializes in lawsuits against foreign carmakers.

Last month, the 77-year-old janitor surnamed Ahn crashed into the parked vehicles while moving a Mercedes GLC on behalf of its owner. Video footage of the accident show the car moving backward while its brake lights are on, and then lunging forward.

"While I was driving carefully with my foot on the brake pedal, the car rushed forward suddenly and stopped after crashing into multiple vehicles," said Ahn, who left the company he had worked for more than a decade.

Ha emphasized that a resident of the apartment complex heard the car make a roaring sound, which may prove that the vehicle had a defect. The lawyer added that he will ask the court to order Mercedes-Benz to preserve data on the event data recorder, electronic control unit and autonomous emergency braking system.

Lawyer Ha Jong-sun at law firm Naru speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

The German carmaker's Korean importer vowed to make all-out efforts to help the customer figure out the cause of the accident by analyzing the car's driving data.

If the SUA is verified, the manufacturer should take responsibility for the accident. However, data compiled by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority showed that there was no single verification of a SUA in 766 suspicious accidents that occurred between 2010 and 2022.

Korean law stipulates that a driver should verify a SUA. Without verification, Ahn should take responsibility for the accident.