Wrongful Death Lawsuits and Takata Air Bags
Takata Air Bag Recall Expanded Again
Given the widespread harms associated with Takata air bags, most drivers in Aurora and across the country have heard about the massive recall. However, in order for a recall to be effective, consumers need to determine whether their automobiles have been impacted. Additionally, recalls often occur only after someone gets hurt or suffers a fatal injury from a defective product, and that is the case when we look at the history of the Takata air bag recall. According to a recent article from NPR, the U.S. Department of Transportation just announced that between 35 and 40 million more defective Takata air bag inflators will be subject to the recall. As the article highlights, along with the 28.8 million air bag inflators already recalled, “this massive action will add up to the largest safety recall in U.S. history.”
In the case of the defective Takata air bag inflator, many consumers around the globe have already sustained fatal injuries. If you recently lost a loved one due to injuries caused by a defective automobile product, you should learn more about filing a wrongful death lawsuit to seek financial compensation.
Recalling the History of the Takata Air Bag Recall and Related Fatalities
A recent article in Car and Driver discussed the history of the Takata air bag inflator recall and the fatal injuries linked to this defective product. Specifically, we know that there have been “at least two deaths” in Honda automobiles, and that number may be even higher. The NPR article reports that the defect has been “tied to 10 deaths and more than 100 injuries” in the United States alone when we take into account all of the affected vehicle models. How do fatal injuries result from an air bag inflator?
In some cases, air bag defects simply result in the car’s air bag failing to deploy in a crash, resulting in more serious (and sometimes fatal) injuries than if the air bag simply had deployed at the moment of impact. However, that is not the issue with the Takata air bag inflators. The defect is one that results in the inflators actually rupturing, resulting in the air bag exploding and sending metal shards and other pieces of shrapnel into the passenger area of the car. In other words, many of those who have been fatally injured by the defective Takata inflators sustained violent wounds from shrapnel.
As of early May, two additional wrongful deaths had been reported in Honda vehicles containing the recalled air bags. While investigators have not yet come to conclusions about the causes of death, authorities have indicated that the air bags did indeed rupture in these vehicles following traffic collisions.
Contact an Aurora Wrongful Death Lawyer
If someone you love sustained fatal injuries in a car accident, and those injuries were caused by a defective auto product, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. It is important to discuss your case with an experienced Aurora wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible. Contact Woodruff Johnson & Evans Law Offices to learn more about how we can assist with your claim.