According to Consumer Reports, vehicles made by 19 different automakers—34 brands—have been recalled to replace frontal airbags on the driver’s, passenger’s, or both sides in what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called “the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history.”
According to the (NHTSA), the airbag’s inflator is loaded by a metal cartridge with propellant wafers that have ignited with explosive force. In some cases, if the inflator housing ruptures in a crash, metal shards from the airbag can be sprayed throughout the passenger cabin—a potentially disastrous outcome from a supposedly lifesaving device.
The airbags, made by major parts supplier Takata, were installed in cars mostly from 2002 through 2015, and a complete list of vehicles impacted by the defect is now available.
Some of those airbags have deployed explosively, injuring and even killing car occupants.
When someone is injured or loses their loved one because of a defective product, the liable party—or combination of parties—must be held accountable for their negligence. This is why we are here.
Our Atlanta personal injury attorneys at Ashby Thelen Lowry have successfully represented individuals and families throughout Georgia whose lives have been changed by defective automobile products and other consumer products to demand change.
Unfortunately, there is still much to do. A total of 67 million airbags have been recalled, and at the end of 2022, 11 million had yet to be replaced.
Check Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) To Learn If the Takata Airbag Recall impacts Your Vehicle
All vehicle owners can check with the NHTSA to see if their vehicles have been included in the Takata defective airbag recall using their vehicle identification number (VIN). In addition, vehicle owners can sign up for Recall Alerts about any future recall affecting their vehicles.
All owners of vehicles with an open airbag recall should take immediate action to have theirs repaired.
Notably, the NHTSA has issued a “Do Not Drive Warning” for certain vehicles where test data on the defective Takata airbag inflators show a far higher risk of ruptures during airbag deployment than for other recalled Takata airbags. These vehicles should not be driven under any circumstances until the airbags are repaired or replaced.
How Can the Atlanta Takata Airbag Injury and Wrongful Death Attorneys at Ashby Thelen Lowry Help?
According to the NHTSA, to date, defective Takata airbags have caused 26 deaths and more than 400 injuries in the U.S. If you have been injured or lost a loved one because a defective Takata airbag deployed during a collision, contact our skilled Marietta personal injury lawyers and support team at Ashby Thelen Lowry today.
Our extensive experience successfully representing clients in defective auto and consumer product cases allows them to pursue the compensation necessary to get their lives back on track while demanding industry-wide changes to ensure these dangerous and often fatal incidents stop before anyone else gets hurt or loses their lives.
We protect your rights and guide you in making informed decisions about your claim. Contact us today at (404) 777-7771 to schedule a free consultation.