Warning! Defective Airbags Linked to Accident Fatalities
Posted July 28th, 2016 by Anthony Carbone, PC.
Categories: Personal Injury.
It seems somewhat ironic that safety devices can have an opposite effect. Such is the case with certain defective airbags. If your car is equipped with a Takata airbag in particular, you should really pay attention. These defective airbags have been linked to accident fatalities.
How do you know if your car is equipped with a Takata airbag? More than likely, you received a recall notice in the mail. Did you inadvertently neglect to open the envelope containing the valuable information? Perhaps you thought it was a sales brochure from the local dealer. We get it.
We’ve previously written about the importance of paying attention to recall notices. In that article, we also offered suggestions on making sure you receive the notifications. In the meantime, we are pleased to provide you the specifics concerning the concerns with Takata airbags.
Is Your Car Equipped with Takata Airbags?
First things first. Are you uncertain whether your vehicle is equipped with Takata airbags? According to the National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration (NHTSA), they can be found in cars manufactured by fourteen different automakers. Takata airbags were specifically installed in certain 20002-2015 vehicles.
How do you know if your car is one of the affected cars? You could call your local dealer. Alternatively, you could research your vehicle by its identification number using this tool. Manufacturers whose vehicles contained Takata airbags include the following:
- Acura
- Jeep
- Audi
- Lexus
- BMW
- Mazda
- Chrysler
- Mitsubishi
- Dodge
- Nissan
- Ferrari
- Pontiac
- Ford
- Saab
- General Motors
- Scion
- Honda
- Subaru
- Infiniti
- Toyota
- Jaguar/Land Rover
- Volkswagen
Wondering about the dangers of the airbags? The problem seems to be with how the airbag inflates. Believe it or not, some airbags have actually exploded when involved in an accident.
The result is that the internal metal can act like shrapnel and actually shoot victims seated in the hot seat. The concern is so big that some car manufacturers are suggesting that drivers refrain from having anyone sit in their passenger seats until the issue is resolved.
Contact Us
If you have been involved in a car crash and experienced injuries due to the airbags, you may have more than one type of claim. At the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, we have nearly three decades of experience with personal injury cases. Contact us to learn how we can assist you with your case.
