When it comes to the risks you face on the road, you tend to focus on one factor: Drivers. Ask any experienced driver, and the overwhelming majority will tell you that they’re most worried about whether or not other drivers will conduct themselves safely. Inclement weather might be a close second. For those reasons, drivers take precautions to drive well and avoid dangerous road conditions.
But what if the most harmful thing on the road is your vehicle itself?
From Safety Device to Deadly Weapon
If you own a car, you may be aware of the massive Takata airbag recall currently taking place. For the past several years, beginning in 2012, many car owners have been shocked to find that their vehicles were effectively spring-loaded with faulty airbags. These airbags, manufactured by Takata, are outfitted with defective inflators and propellants. While these airbags will still deploy in the event of a crash, the result could be more deadly than the crash itself.
The problem with Takata airbags begins with a faulty propellant, which can break down over time, especially in humid conditions. The propellant can in turn break down the metal inflators. In the event of a crash, the defective inflators can spray shrapnel and other metal fragments at drivers and passengers. Hundreds of injuries and over a dozen deaths have been reported, and automobile manufacturers have expanded their list of vehicles to be recalled in the past four years. You can find a list of affected vehicles here: http://blog.caranddriver.com/massive-takata-airbag-recall-everything-you-need-to-know-including-full-list-of-affected-vehicles/.
Why You Should Seek Help
What’s even more horrifying is that Takata employees appeared to know all along that the airbag inflators were defective and could potentially cause injuries and deaths. A case like this is an instance where a victim of a faulty Takata airbag could very well be entitled to a settlement of damages for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, or—if you are representing a loved one who has died as a result of airbag injuries—loss of life. And the Takata airbag nightmare isn’t the only scenario in which your airbag could pose a danger to your physical safety. In some cases, airbags fail to deploy at all after a crash, which poses similar risks to life and limb.
If you suspect that your or a loved one’s vehicle injury was due to a faulty airbag of any kind, don’t wait to speak with an auto accident lawyer in Gloucester County. Gather an accident report, police report, and any other pertinent information, and bring it to a consultation with the Law Offices of Vincent J. Ciecka, where our team of accident lawyers in South Jersey will fight for the highest settlement possible.
If you are hurt and need help, contact us immediately so we can go to work for you. We help injured people get compensation and medical treatment so they can get back to health and their daily activities without having to deal with the insurance companies.
