Takata Airbag Defect Attorneys in Atlanta, Georgia
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.
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. Unfortunately, these cases are more prevalent than they should be.
Here, our Fulton County personal injury lawyers discuss Takata Airbag defects and their impact on drivers in Georgia and nationwide.
Why Were the Takata Airbags Deemed Defective?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the airbag’s inflator is at the heart of the problem. It is a metal cartridge loaded with propellant wafers that has 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.
Which Vehicles Have Been Impacted by Defective Takata Airbags?
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 NHTSA has called “the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history.”
The airbags, made by major parts supplier Takata, were installed in cars mostly from 2002 through 2015. Some of those airbags could deploy explosively, injuring and even killing car occupants. A total of 67 million airbags have been recalled, and at the end of 2022, 11 million were still yet to be replaced.
How Do I Know If My Vehicle Has a Defective Takata Airbag?
Consumer Reports provides a complete list of vehicles impacted by the defective Takata airbags.
In addition, 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.
All owners of vehicles with an open airbag recall should take immediate action to have theirs repaired.
Vehicle owners can check for recalls using their vehicle identification number (VIN) and sign up for Recall Alerts about any future recall affecting their vehicles.
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.
