Recent reports have been published regarding the dangerous issue and recall notices associated with airbags which were manufactured by Takata Corporation of Japan. According to multiple complaints filed, the chemical inside the airbag, which makes it inflate, explodes with such force that it causes a metal inflator to shatter into pieces. The metal shrapnel is spewed into the passenger’s side of the vehicle. So far, these defective airbags, installed in numerous make and model vehicles, have killed at least six people and injured hundreds of others.

However, this week the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have announced that Takata is recalling 33.8 million airbags and is finally admitting that the airbags they manufactured are defective. The agreement between the federal regulators and the company has taken over one year to reach.

Almost a dozen automakers have previously issued recalls of approximately 17 million airbags nationwide, including Toyota and Honda. Now that Takata has doubled the number of airbags which are being recalled, this recall will be the largest recall in U.S. history.

There have been previous media reports that both Takata and Honda were aware of the dangers of the airbags as early as 2004. Instead of notifying federal officials of the problem, Takata ordered its engineers to destroy all documents and other physical evidence which revealed the defective.

In 2007 and 2008, Honda settled cases with several other victims of defective airbags, yet did not act on the information they had. In 2009, there was one report of a woman who “bled to death in front of her three children” when metal shrapnel from a defective airbag exploded into the woman’s neck and chest.

There are multiple models of vehicles which are affected by the Takata recall. Car manufactures include Acura, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan Pontiac, Saab, Subaru and Toyota.

If you have been injured by a defective product, please contact an experienced Westport personal injury attorney to find out what legal recourse you may have against the manufacturer of the product. Call Richard H. Raphael, Attorney at Law, today at 203-226-6168 to schedule a free case evaluation.

Imagine being involved in a low-impact car crash and having your air bag, a device designed to protect your safety, explode causing shrapnel to spray throughout your vehicle. This is the type of situation that many drivers have faced over the last several months due to defective air bags manufactured by Japanese automotive supplier Takata.

What began as a regional recall, focused specifically in high-humidity states, has now become a nationwide safety concern affecting approximately 7.8 million vehicles from 10 different automakers, according to Consumer Reports.

The catastrophic events linked to Takata air bags have included explosive shrapnel as a result of air bags inflating too quickly after collisions such as rear-end car accidents. Over 100 personal injuries and at least five fatalities have been reported thus far, which has prompted the recall expansion. Honda was the first to take its recall nationwide as demanded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but in recent weeks, Ford, Mazda, Chrysler, and BMW have also followed suit, as reported by The New York Times.

Takata’s president has stepped down as the company continues involvement in this worldwide safety issue linked to its air bags installed in vehicles from 2002 through 2008. There are still lingering questions about the cause of more recent air bag injuries and which cars specifically are at inherent risk.

Car manufacturers are responsible in alerting consumers of any defectiveness regarding their products in a timely manner. If they are negligent in doing so, injuries can occur for which they hold accountability. Takata air bags have been directly linked to tragic events putting millions of people in danger. A woman in South Carolina has been the most recent victim reporting chest injuries sustained as a result of excessive force of the Takata air bag installed in her 2001 Honda.

If you or someone you know have been seriously injured as a result of a defective car part in Connecticut, contact a qualified Westport personal injury today. You may be eligible for compensation, which could help pay for any medical expenses acquired as a result of your injuries. Call our office for a free case evaluation.