It is the responsibility of all manufacturers, distributors and retailers to provide the public with safe products. This is especially true when the product is intended to protect us from harm. Unfortunately, Takata’s negligence for their airbag has caused numerous injuries and deaths and reminds us all that consumer safety is not always a company’s top priority.
So far, Takata’s airbag design and manufacturing defects have been responsible for the deaths of 12 people and the injuries of many more. The attention brought to Takata’s airbags has resulted in a recall of millions of vehicles globally and continues to grow. Many recalls involve vehicles that were manufactured as early as 2000 and include motor companies such as BMW, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota, and more. The victims, in lethal cases, reportedly died because of metal shrapnel entering their bodies due to an explosion of the propellant used in Takata’s airbags. Under certain conditions, the ammonium nitrate found inside the airbags inflation assembly will detonate when exposed to an electrical current instead of inflating the airbags as intended.
Families of injured victims are suing Takata and the auto manufacturers themselves for negligence and breach of warranty. In any product liability claim such as this one, potentially liable parties include the manufacturer, the distributor, the retailer and possibly any person who repaired the vehicle or the defective part. In this case, the victims argue that Takata was negligent in the design and manufacture of the airbags and that negligence resulted in an unreasonably dangerous product which caused harm to them and their loved ones. Specifically, Takata breached an implied warranty, meaning that Takata failed to provide a reasonably safe airbag that would not be dangerous if used as intended. Those injured and families of the deceased claim they are entitled to millions of dollars from Takata because of the severe injuries and economic loss that they have sustained.
Takata has known about this problem for a long time and has allegedly taken steps to manipulate their test results in order to cover up the problem. Many vehicles that have defective airbags are still on the road today and pose an ongoing threat to drivers and passengers. In many cases, these vehicles and their airbags have been recalled but not yet replaced.
If you have a vehicle with a Takata airbag, your first step should be to take it to your dealer to see if it has been recalled. If it has, get it replaced as soon as possible. Obviously, If you have been hurt by a defective airbag or any other defective motor vehicle part, please call an experienced product liability lawyer as soon as possible.