In the largest auto safety recall in U.S. history, more than 19 million vehicles that are equipped with Takata airbags have been recalled as of April 2016. More than 100 injuries and multiple deaths have already been linked to dangerous shrapnel from exploding Takata airbags. Cars from 15 automakers are affected, with the possibility of even more recalls on the horizon. Honda alone has already replaced more than four million potentially deadly airbag inflators.
This vehicle recall is so far-reaching it has even affected Mark Rosekind, the head of the National Highway Transportation Safety Agency. Mr. Rosekind's wife drives a recalled vehicle, and like millions of other Americans she has to wait in a long line to get her car fixed. A research company hired by automakers concluded that water seeping into the inflators causes the explosions. Because of this finding, the NHTSA has prioritized repairing older cars in areas along the Gulf Coast, which are at higher risk due to humid conditions. Mr. Rosekind's family, unlike so many others out there, are lucky enough to have access to another car during the long wait for repairs.
Is Your Vehicle Affected?
To determine if you or your family are at risk because your vehicle is one of the more than 19 million that have been recalled, visit this website. It lists vehicle makes and models by year, and includes a link to view NHTSA priorities for repairs.
If you believe that you or a loved one suffered an injury or death related to a faulty airbag or other defective auto part, contact Milam & Fanning. We handle product liability claims that take negligent companies fully to task on your behalf, fighting for lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages.