December 21, 2015 | Blog,Car Accidents
Though airbags are intended to protect motorists in the event of a collision, some defects actually inflict additional injuries to accident victims. In recent months, many headlines have focused on a large number of potentially defective airbags manufactured by Japanese company Takata. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a statement [1] earlier this year regarding limited recalls of these dangerous airbags, however NHTSA has also placed pressure on the manufacturer to issue a nationwide recall of all possibly defective products. In addition, numerous auto companies have issued recalls if they installed potentially defective airbags in their vehicles.
It is important that you check the recall website [2] to see if your vehicle is affected by the recall in order to avoid serious injury to you or your family members. If you have already suffered injury due to a defective airbag, you should contact an experienced auto accident attorney in Indianapolis as soon as possible. Defective Inflators When a collision occurs, an airbag deploys and inflates in mere seconds in order to protect a motorist’s head from slamming into the dashboard, windshield, or steering wheel. While this protection prevents serious head trauma, the force of deployment of the airbags can cause burns, lacerations, and even facial fractures. When an airbag is defective, the injuries caused may be substantially more severe. The Takata airbags reportedly have a defective inflator, which can cause the airbag to deploy with extraordinary force. This can cause a rupture in the airbag and can result in pieces of the inflator being ejected out into the vehicle. This means that shards of metal have flown out toward motorists at a significant speed, causing severe and sometimes fatal injuries. If such cases, the manufacturer of the airbag should be held liable for all injuries and losses related to the defective product. Contact an experienced Indianapolis auto accident attorney for assistance If you have suffered injury in an auto accident due to a defective airbag or other negligence, Indianapolis personal injury attorney Merry Fountain can help you. At the Fountain Law Firm, we are committed to standing up for the rights of injured accident victims and will do everything in our power to help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation at 888-242-HURT today. [1] http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Owners/NHTSA-statement-on-takata-air-bags [2] http://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls