Cincinnati Takata Airbag Claims Lawyer

Takata Corporation is under intense scrutiny following a slew of recall announcements initiated by faulty airbags the company manufactured.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has begun urging vehicle owners who have received recall notices to get their vehicles repaired as soon as possible. According to the NHTSA, the airbag inflators are defective and can rupture. When an airbag deploys, metal shards may come out of the airbag as result of this defect. Approximately four deaths and dozens more injuries have been linked to Takata airbags.

If you or someone you love has been injured by a defective airbag, the Takata airbag recall lawyers at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy can help you get the compensation and justice you deserve. For more contact a product recall attorney with our firm today.

HAS YOUR VEHICLE BEEN RECALLED?

Takata Corp. produces approximately 25 percent of vehicle airbags, which means millions of vehicles must be repaired. At least 7.8 million vehicles have been recalled in the United States with vehicle models dating as far back as the early 2000s. Worldwide, 14 million vehicles have been recalled for defective Takata airbags.

Below is a list of the makes and models that have been recalled:

BMW

Chrysler

Ford

General Motors (GM)

Honda

Mazda

Mitsubishi

Nissan

Subaru

Toyota

Recently, Takata Corp. announced that it found a similar defect in some makes and models. According to Takata, the inflators were made with an incorrect outer baffle part that can cause pressure to build up and rupture the inflators upon airbag deployment. Nissan and General Motors have already recalled some of their vehicles to correct this issue.

VEHICLE RECALL NOTICES

Recalls for these airbags date as far back as 2014. The NHTSA noted in a consumer advisory that fixing this issue is essential to personal safety.

If you are not sure if your vehicle has been recalled, find the vehicle identification number (VIN) on your vehicle and visit safercar.gov to search the NHTSA recall database. Additionally, you can visit your vehicle manufacturers website to search by VIN as auto manufacturers are required by law to have this information available for consumers.

Once you have confirmed that your vehicle needs to be repaired, contact a local dealer service department to make arrangements for the repair. If you have been injured in an auto accident as a result of a defective airbag, contact one of our defective product attorneys. Our Takata airbag recall lawyers can help you determine what your legal options are.

DID TAKATA WAIT TOO LONG TO ANNOUNCED A RECALL?

A New York Times exposé on Takata airbags has found several instances in which both the airbag manufacturer and Honda Motors knew about these defective airbags, but did little to note that they were putting the public in danger.

In 2004, the driver of a Honda Accord was seriously injured after the airbag in the vehicle deployed during a car accident. Takata denounced this occurrence and referred to it as an anomaly. By 2007, at least three more inflator ruptures were reported, but these claims were settled with the victims.

One of the first fatal accidents linked to Takata occurred in 2009 when a woman reportedly bled to death after a car accident and metal shards were found in her neck and torso. Honda had recalled some of their vehicles by this time, but it only accounted for a small fraction of the total number of Hondas that would ultimately be recalled.

The NHTSA initiated an inquiry into Takata Corp. in 2009, but closed the investigation less than a year later as it believed there was not sufficient information to suggest that immediate action was not taken to resolve this issue. This investigation has been reopened and the corporation will now have to provide documents about the airbags by Dec. 1 and answer questions under oath.

CONTACT OUR CINCINNATI TAKATA AIRBAG ATTORNEY

Have you or your family been affected by a Takata airbag? If so, have you considered exploring your legal options to possibly obtain financial compensation for your losses? You may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.

The defective product liability lawyers at the law offices of O’Connor, Acciani and Levy have decades of experience and the resources to help fight the manufacturers in your defense. We offer free, confidential consultations to help you determine what your legal options are.