Federal investigators with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently warned drivers operating certain Honda and Acura vehicles produced from 2001 to 2003 their vehicles may be at especially high risk for a dangerous Takata airbag explosion. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said these vehicles have a 50 percent chance of a dangerous explosion and must be repaired immediately.
Although Honda reports 70 percent of at-risk vehicles for airbag explosions have been recalled, there still remain over 300,000 vehicles in need of repairs. Safety experts encourage owners of at-risk Honda or Acura vehicles to repair their defective Takata airbags as quickly as possible to prevent catastrophic injury.
Over one dozen deaths and hundreds of serious injuries are linked to the defective Takata airbags installed in tens of millions of vehicles across the U.S. While Takata and other parts manufacturers work feverishly to correct their careless airbag design and manufacturing, millions of ordinary Americans remain at risk for a life-changing accident.
According to company engineers, Takata knew for over a decade about the risk its faulty airbags posed to drivers and passengers. Takata airbags utilize a chemical compound called ammonium nitrate which can become volatile if exposed to heat and humidity.
The ammonium nitrate is used to inflate the airbag quickly in the event of a crash. Unfortunately for many victims, water and heat can corrupt the chemical to the point where it becomes a ticking time bomb with the potential to rupture the metal canister encasing the airbag, sending deadly shrapnel into the faces and chests of vehicle occupants.
Drivers who believe a Takata airbag might be installed in their vehicle should use the VIN lookup on the NHTSA website. or contact their vehicle’s manufacturer to verify the presence of a deadly airbag. Repairs should be made as soon as possible to avoid possible safety risks.
Over 70 million vehicles in the U.S. have Takata airbags installed, putting a huge segment of our population at risk. At a law firm that fights for the rights of ordinary people harmed by corporate greed and negligence, the Takata airbag injury lawyers of The Cochran Firm, D.C. will continue to actively monitor the situation.
If you or a loved one were seriously hurt by an exploding Takata airbag, contact our office for a free legal consultation about your case. Our dedicated and seasoned Takata airbag injury lawyers have the resources and experience necessary to properly investigate these types of claims and will work tirelessly to secure justice for you.
Call our office at 202-682-5800 during business hours or at 1-800-THE FIRM (843-3476) to reach us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Strict time deadlines apply to filing Takata airbag injury lawsuits so please contact us at your earliest convenience and preserve your legal rights.
