Recalled Airbag Explosion Injury Lawyers: Free Case Evaluation

By Harvey Kirk
Posted November 21, 2014

ADD YOUR COMMENTS 1

The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are continuing to review potential personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits for individuals throughout the United States as a result of exploding airbags that have been recalled by Takata Corp., a Japanese auto parts supplier, whose airbags have been used in vehicles sold by a number of different companies.

At least 14 million vehicles have been recalled in recent months, due to defective airbags that may over-inflate, rupture and explode, causing metal and other debris to be fired towards drivers or passengers. This could cause severe and debilitating injury or death.

This week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggested that the size and scope of the airbag recall may be dramatically expanded, and new information seems to emerge every day about the airbag problems, with new injuries and deaths continuing to surface.

At this time, the auto airbag recall lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are investigating cases for any injury or death that may have been caused by an airbag that ruptured or exploded in vehicles manufactured by any of the following auto makers:

Airbag Explosion Risk

While signs of the problems with exploding airbags appear to date back more than 10 years, the issue has gained widespread media attention in recent months, and more people are learning that severe injuries or deaths in recent years may have been caused by defective airbags manufactured by Takata Corp.

The NHTSA has suggested that Takata, Honda and other auto makers may have failed to adequately report everything they knew about the risk of exploding airbags, which appear to be caused by design defects or manufacturing problems with certain the inflators or the chemical propellants used by Takata.

The NHTSA has ordered Takata and Honda to turn over all documentation on the problems, and Honda has already acknowledged that it violated auto safety regulations by failing to report incidents involving the potentially defective airbags.

Whistleblowers have also stepped forward with information that Takata conducted secret tests on suspected airbag defects as far back as 2004, but covered the tests up and failed to alert the public that there were any problems that could cause their airbags to explode for at least four years.

Early investigations by the NHTSA have focused on problems affecting cars in high-humidity regions. However, it has recently emerged that problems could also occur in non-humid areas. In addition, while most of the recalled airbags so far have been used in vehicles sold between 2000 and 2008, some information has suggested that manufacturing problems may extend as late as June 2014.

There have already been at least six deaths and more than 140 injures linked to recalled airbag explosions. Unfortunately, it appears likely that this number will increase dramatically in the coming months as people report accidents that may have been caused by the Takata airbags.

In addition, given the slow rate of repairing recalled cars, more incidents of airbag explosions may surface among vehicles that remain on the roads. As of this week, Takata officials acknowledge that only about 6% of recalled vehicles have had their airbags repaired or replaced.

Takata indicates that it is manufacturing about 300,000 parts per month, and plans to boost that to 450,000 by January. However, with more than 8 million vehicles recalled just this year, and millions more that may be recalled in the coming weeks, it could take more than a year and half for some owners to get their vehicles repaired.

Airbag Injury Lawsuits

Financial compensation may be available through a defective airbag lawsuit for individuals who have been injured or lost loved ones due to recalled airbag explosions.

The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A., provide free consultations and claim evaluations. All cases are being pursued under a contingency fee agreement, which means that there are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained.

To review a potential case for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.