It’s difficult to quantify the number of lives saved by vehicle airbags since they first began to be installed in vehicles. Yet the history of the airbag has not been without its dark points, and the recall of Takata airbags —the largest automotive recall in U.S. history—could very well be the darkest point of all.
No one ever expects their airbags to pose a danger to them. Yet airbag malfunctions are not incredibly uncommon. Neither are cases where the airbag deploys so violently that it itself could be the cause of harm. In either case, consumers in New York and other states are facing the risks that defective airbags pose. If these risks result in injury or death, contact Attorney Group for New York.
A Worldwide Recall Involving 35 Million Vehicles
Death by airbag? To some, such an idea seems incredulous. Yet that’s precisely what The New York Times recently reported. Japanese parts supplier Takata has found itself in the headlines recently, yet for all of the wrong reasons. It’s being reported that at least six deaths and over 100 injuries have been attributed to Takata airbags. The cause of these tragic events is said to be a defect that causes the airbags to burst violently enough to send metal shrapnel flying at drivers and passengers. Investigations have linked the cause to faulty inflators that were not airtight, allowing moisture to mix with and compromise the chemical agents used to propel the airbag’s deployment.
In response to these findings, a number of car manufacturers, including Toyota and Nissan, recently issued a mass recall for vehicles in which these airbags are installed. Honda, Takata’s biggest client, followed suit a day later, bringing the total number of vehicles recalled specifically due to this issue to over 35 million.
While the recall has been issued globally, it’s in the United States where Takata could be facing its biggest concern. Representatives from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have been critical of the company’s response to this problem, and the agency has been issuing fines in order to try and expedite the recall process.
People Injured by Defective Airbags May be Eligible for Compensation
Violent airbag deployments on their own are enough to cause significant damage. Couple that with the expenses associated with a car accident (which deployments typically accompany), and one could easily be facing a mountain of expenses for medical care, rehabilitation, and vehicle repair. In a case where a defective product such as an airbag contributed to an injury, compensation from the automaker and/or the airbag manufacturer may be appropriate to help in dealing with these costs and the accompanying pain and suffering. For families of those killed by an exploding airbag, damages may be available to compensate for the wrongful death of a loved one.
We’re Ready to Work For You
At Attorney Group for New York, we want to help you get the compensation to which you may be entitled. If you or a family member has fallen victim to a Takata airbag or any other defective automotive product, let us help. We can answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim, we can connect you with an affiliated defective airbag lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process. State laws limit the time you have to pursue a claim, so contact us today.
