There is a very good chance you might be driving a car impacted by the single biggest safety recall in automotive history. On November 7, 2014 the New York Times published an article indicating that automotive airbag manufacturing giant Takata was well aware of numerous safety defects with their products for several years before they filed for approval from federal regulators in the United States. These airbags or their inflators have since been recalled in a suit that impacts more than 30 million cars in the United States and over 100 million worldwide.
The specific root cause is that the affected airbags use an ammonium-nitrate based ignitor that does not have a drying agent, which means in areas of particularly high humidity and temperature (weather similar to a Texas summer), the airbags could potentially inflate with even the slightest collision impact.
Millions of Affected Vehicles
The possible sudden deployment of these airbags in even minor collisions creates a significant risk for drivers who could be seriously injured either by the impact of the airbag or by the metal shrapnel these airbags can potentially fire into the cabin of the vehicle at high speeds. To date more than 100 injuries have been linked to these airbags, some of them even very severe in nature.
The number of models potentially impacted by the Takata airbag recall is far too great to list here, however, these manufacturers have all had vehicles that either use a Takata airbag system or an inflator which pose a serious injury risk if not taken care of quickly.
The following brands have all had vehicles impacted the Takata airbag recall:
- BMW
- Chevrolet/Cadillac/Buick/GMC/Saab/Saturn/Pontiac
- Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram
- Ford/Lincoln/Mercury
- Ferrari
- Honda/Acura
- Jaguar/Land Rover
- Mazda
- Mercedes-Benz
- Mitsubishi
- Nissan/Infiniti
- Subaru
- Toyota/Lexus/Scion
- Volkswagen/Audi
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the governmental agency who has been responsible for urging manufacturers to recall the affected or potentially dangerous vehicles, has created a tool which you can use to look up whether or not your particular car is part of these sweeping recalls. You can find that tool here.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a Takata airbag or any other potentially defective product, speaking with a Corpus Christi personal injury attorney is a great way to begin reviewing your legal options. You could be eligible for substantial compensation to help ease the blow of the major medical expenses, bereavement, and lost income from missed work due to your injuries.
The top-rated legal team at Sico Hoelscher Harris LLP is not afraid to take cases to trial. We have some of the nation’s top personal injury trial lawyers on our staff, and we have earned some landmark case victories, including the only successful product liability suit against tire-manufacturing giant Firestone. Our Board Certified® Personal Injury Lawyers have settled cases worth multiple millions of dollars, and have earned numerous top honors, including an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell®.
Call the skilled team at Sico Hoelscher Harris LLP and request a free consultation today.