Some New Jersey motorists may be affected by the fact that Takata, a Japanese manufacturer of airbags used in many different car models, has recalled 33.8 million cars. The company had been pressured to initiate the recall for several months, being hit with daily fines for failing to do so that now total $1.2 million.
The recall comes after six people died and more than 100 were injured in accidents around the world due to the airbags. The defect lies in the chemical used in the manufacturing process. It causes the airbags to inflate with too much force, leading to the explosion of a metal inflator. Shrapnel from the inflator can then fly into the passenger compartment, causing serious injury or death to those inside.
The recall is the largest ever for automobiles, dwarfing the recall of 2.6 million General Motors cars for problems with the ignition switch that occurred last year. The size of the recall also is larger than the 1982 recall of 31 million bottles of Tylenol. People who receive recall notices in the mail should promptly schedule to have the defect repaired.
When people are seriously injured by a defective product, they may be able to seek recovery of damages through filing a products liability lawsuit. All of those responsible for placing the defective product into the public marketplace may be named as defendants to the lawsuit. People who have been injured in such a way may want to seek a consultation with a personal injury attorney who has experience in these matters. An attorney might be able to review the relevant facts in order to advise people whether they have grounds for a lawsuit while helping to assess the damages that have been sustained.
Source: FOX News, “Faulty Takata air bags trigger largest auto recall in US history,” May 19, 2015.
