Airbag Injury

A number of large automakers worldwide have recalled many of their vehicles because of defective airbags, which can potentially cause serious injuries when they deploy. According to a news report in USA Today, over 1.3 million vehicles have been recalled just in the United States for faulty propellant canisters that can cause the airbags to deploy too aggressively. Officials warn that the airbags can tear, causing them to be less effective during an accident. It is also possible for the canisters to propel shrapnel inside the vehicle, which could seriously injure or even kill occupants.

Most of the vehicles involved in the recall are from model years 2001 to 2003. The vehicles in question include unspecified BMW models, a number of Toyota vehicles including the Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia and Tundra. Other vehicles that have the defective airbags include Honda Civics, CR-Vs and Odysseys, Nissan Maxima, Pathfinder and Sentra, Mazda6 and RX-8, the Pontiac Vibe, Lexus SC 430 and Infiniti I35 and QX4.

Takata, the company responsible for manufacturing the defective airbags, had to issue another airbag recall in December of 2011 for driver’s side airbags that could deploy so powerfully that they shot out shrapnel. That defect led to two fatalities and 19 injuries. The largest Takata recall to date involved a 1995 auto recall that involved eight million vehicles with defective seatbelt buckles.

If you are involved in an injury accident involving a vehicle defect or mechanical malfunction, there are a number of steps you should take to protect your rights. First, it is important to report the accident to police and to seek out medical attention. You may be tempted to have your vehicle repaired quickly so that you can continue driving, but it is important to keep the vehicle in its damaged state so it can be carefully examined by an expert for possible defects and malfunctions.

The Georgia personal injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. have a long history of holding negligent product manufacturers accountable. If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective auto, please contact us (404) 995-3955 for a no-cost consultation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in cooperation with the American Honda Motor Co., has expanded its June recall of Honda and Acura vehicles affected by a defective driver’s side airbag inflator to about 1,709,477. The expansion includes 272,779 vehicles, 640 defective replacement airbags, and another 603,241 vehicles in which the defective replacement airbags may have been installed.

The defect involves the driver’s side airbag inflator, which could produce an excessive amount of internal pressure in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates the deployment of the airbag. This buildup of pressure could cause a rupture in the inflator, resulting in the release of metal fragments into the vehicle that can injure the driver and passengers. The affected vehicles include model year(s):

1. 2002-2003 Acura TL;
2. 2003 Acura CL;
3. 2001-2002 Honda Accord;
4. 2002-2003 Honda CR-V;
5. 2001-2003 Honda Civic;
6. 2003 Honda Pilot; and
7. 2002-2003 Honda CR-V.

Owners of the recalled vehicles will be notified and instructed to take their vehicle to a Honda dealer, who will inspect vehicles and replace the defective airbag inflator, if necessary, free of charge. Owners of vehicles in the expansion group will be notified this month. This recall is associated with the following recall campaign numbers: 09V-259, 08V-593, and 10V-041. For additional information, owners can contact Honda at (800) 999-1009.

Airbags are supposed to provide protection for the occupants of a vehicle, not cause them further injury. If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective airbag in Georgia, contact the skilled airbag injury lawyers in Atlanta at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., to learn more about holding negligent auto manufacturers responsible for the losses you’ve suffered and how you can obtain the maximum compensation you deserve. Call us at (404) 995-3955, or toll-free at (866) 249-5513 for a consultation.