Think about your daily travels. You get up in the morning, maybe head off to work or take the kids to school. Just like millions of Americans every day, you get into your family vehicle…without giving it much thought.
We all know that traveling by car is one of the most dangerous forms of travel, considering the number of car accidents that happen daily. But add a manufacturing recall into the mix and now you’ve doubled your risks…and your family’s.
Recalling Risks
Perhaps one of the greatest safety innovations in automobile history is the airbag. Since its implementation over 30 years ago, the airbag has saved countless lives. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that the risk of fatal injury is 61 percent lower with an airbag and a seat-belt.
On the other hand, an airbag can also cost lives if it isn’t properly designed and manufactured. Despite manufacturers’ best attempts and efforts at making vehicles safer and more efficient by using today’s advanced technology, one particular manufacturer has fallen short…
Over the past year, more than 30 million U.S. automobiles equipped with Takata airbags have been recalled, making this the largest automobile recall in our nation’s history.
Airbag Anomalies
According to the New York Times, the first instance of a Takata airbag malfunction was in a 2004 Honda Accord. The airbag in the vehicle exploded, severely injuring the driver. Honda could not explain how or why the incident happened.
In what has the potential to be a fatal flaw, portions of the Takata airbags have ruptured when deployed causing metal shards to be sprayed throughout the passenger cabin. To date, 8 deaths and more than 100 injuries have been linked to Takata airbags.
Takata has admitted that its airbags can cause injury or death and that it has been aware of this problem for some time, referring to the incidents as “anomalies”.
In July of this year, NHTSA expressed concerns on vehicles equipped with Takata airbags, particularly those vehicles located in areas with high humidity, such as Florida and Hawaii. In 2008, a minor car accident in Orlando, Florida, resulted in an airbag exploding, causing some severe lacerations to the 26-year-old female driver.
This accident involved a Honda Civic, which was not on the original recall list. Since then, many additional Takata airbag injuries have occurred during accidents involving vehicles from multiple manufacturers, both foreign and domestic.
Is My Vehicle on The Recall List?
Ten automakers, including Honda, Toyota, BMW, Chrysler, and Dodge have recalled automobiles due to the defective airbags. Click here to see if your vehicle was impacted by the recall.
If you notice that your vehicle is on “the list”, then work with your dealer to get this repaired. Additionally, if you or someone you know has been injured or killed by a Takata airbag, it is imperative to contact an attorney as soon as possible.
Takata Airbag Recall
With over 100 years of combined experience, the attorneys at Hardesty, Tyde, Green, Ashton & Clifton, P.A., are here to help. Contact us online or call us toll-free at (877) 414-4906.
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What constitutes a personal injury?
The most common personal injury is an auto accident, but the broad definition encompasses any situation where a person suffers harm due to the negligence of another person or entity. Early identification of a personal injury is important to the legal process. Many serious injuries occur each year involving:
– Auto accidents
– Premises liability accidents such as injuries caused by a slip and fall
– Medical malpractice/nursing home injuries
– Wrongful death
– Work-related accidents
– Animal attacks
– Faulty or malfunctioning products (product liability)