Corpus Christi Defective Airbag Lawyers

Handling Product Liability Cases in Nueces County & Beyond

Did you know a full 33% of all vehicles recalled within the United States are never taken back to the dealership for repairs? Just recently, the Honda Corporation announced that it would fully support new legislation making completed recall repairs a requirement for vehicle registration.

Honda claims that increasing the rate of recall repairs will significantly reduce the amount of risk drivers are exposed to each time they get behind the wheel. They also cite the fact that older vehicles are much less likely to be returned for repairs, and this increases danger to these vehicles’ owners a great deal.

This support is not unfounded or impromptu. There is currently an open recall on older vehicles across the industry (including those made by Honda) that were equipped with Takata airbag inflators, which may be defective. Though the vehicles are currently under recall, Honda and other car manufacturers may still be liable for damages, injuries, and/or fatalities that occur because of a failed airbag.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an accident due to an airbag failure or malfunction, you should consult with a defective airbag attorney immediately. If your accident occurred before the recall was announced or if you were unaware of the recall at the time of the accident, your vehicle’s manufacturer or the dealer where you purchased your vehicle may owe you compensation.

How Airbags Work

The airbags in your car are designed to deploy upon impact. They must inflate quickly enough that your head and body do not collide with the dashboard or the side of your vehicle. For this reason, side-impact airbags are designed to deploy at a faster rate than front airbags because your seating position puts you closer to the side of your car than the dashboard or steering wheel.

Unfortunately, if an airbag’s inflator and/or deployment mechanism malfunctions, it could inflate too quickly or not at all, either of which case could cause major injuries or even death.

The Takata Airbag Recall

If you have a vehicle manufactured between 2002 and 2008, you may need a new airbag, and you may have a case to discuss with Takata airbag attorneys. According to Consumer Reports, an estimated 17 million vehicles from 10 different manufacturers made within this time frame were equipped with a malfunctioning Takata airbag. In an accident, rather than deploying at the proper speed and force, these airbags could deploy with explosive force with dangerous shrapnel flying toward the driver or passenger of the car.

Though the first recall on Takata airbags occurred in 2008, these recalls are still open, and a surprising number of vehicles remain unrepaired. This is, in part, due to the extensive wait times associated with getting a replacement airbag. It’s also affected by the fact that older vehicles statistically are less likely to be taken back to a dealership to have recalled parts repaired.

According to Consumer Reports, Nissan’s representatives have given the best explanation for how and why these Takata airbags malfunction, saying, “The propellant could potentially deteriorate over time due to environmental factors [due to many years in high humidity conditions], which could lead to over-aggressive combustion in the event of an airbag deployment. This could create excessive internal pressure within the inflator and could cause the inflator housing to rupture.”

This explains the shrapnel that has caused a number of injuries and fatalities in car accidents with these airbags over the years. You can see, now, how this safety feature can suddenly turn deadly and how older vehicles that have been operated over many years in warm, humid environments are at the highest risk.

If You Are Injured in an Accident Due to a Defective Airbag

In the case of the Takata airbag inflators that Honda and at least nine other car manufacturers have recalled, the first recall occurred in 2008. However, the first documented case of an injury due to these malfunctioning airbags happened a full four years prior in 2004. If you were injured in an accident prior to your vehicle’s recall date, you are most likely owed compensation and should call our airbag recall attorneys right away to determine how to move forward with your case.

Even if you were in an accident and injured by a recalled airbag after your vehicle’s recall date, you may still be eligible for compensation. However, in this case, you will have a heavier burden of proof to show that the manufacturer or your car dealership was negligent in notifying you of the recall. If you were unaware of the recall at the time of your accident, you could have a case.

Reach Out to Bandas Law Firm, P.C. for a Free Consultation

Whether you were injured by your vehicle’s airbag before or after the recall, you should call a qualified airbag recall attorney today for a consultation. Attempting to handle this kind of claim on your own without a legal professional on your side is a poor idea. Car manufacturers’ insurance companies employ numerous attorneys every year to help them avoid paying out on claims like yours. With assistance from the right airbag recall attorneys, you will be much more likely to get the compensation you deserve.