Could You Be Injured By Your Car’s Airbag? You May Not Be Alone, and the Solution Has Many Questioning Safety Measures
Chances are, you or someone you know has been affected by a recent recall related to faulty airbags. The problem is not that the airbags do not deploy properly, but rather that when they do, they could hit vehicle occupants with shrapnel.
A Widespread Problem With an Unclear Answer
With eight million vehicles from ten manufacturers affected by the recall of Takata airbags, the problem has become much larger than simply replacing the airbags. Takata, however, does not have enough airbags to replace the defective product, leaving auto manufacturers scratching their heads for a solution.
Toyota has said that they will replace the faulty airbags until they run out of replacement parts, at which point they will begin disabling the airbags until replacements are available. This process involved getting permission from the National Transportation Safety Board. In order to do this, the dashboard that holds the disabled airbag—which is only on the passenger side—must be marked with a sticker that warns passengers not to occupy the seat until the airbag is replaced.
Other manufacturers have said that they will not disable the airbags when they run out of replacements, and many safety groups agree. While four people have died and several more injured because of the exploding airbags, the potential death toll of disabling airbags could be much higher.
Has Your Car Been Affected?
If yours is one of the affected vehicles, consider holding out on the service until replacement parts are available. The Center for Auto Safety has said that only a small percentage of affected airbags would be susceptible to explosion in a crash, and while the bags pose a risk, having no airbag is a significantly more dangerous risk to take.
If you have been injured as a result of a defective airbag, you do not need to face the manufacturers alone. Reach out to our firm today by clicking on the live chat link, and learn how we can help you get the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.