When New Jersey residents buy a car, they expect that vehicle to be safe, especially if it is new or has been well-maintained. However, there has already been a recall on more than 42 million Takata airbags due to a potential defect that could be dangerous if not deadly.
Airbags are designed to inflate when the sensor detects that the vehicle has come to a rapid stop. When they work correctly, the airbags can prevent more serious injuries and even deaths. However, there are factors that can prevent the airbags from working as intended. These include excess moisture, high temperatures and defects related to the age of the device. In the event the inflator housing fails, shards can be projected when the airbag inflates.
Nineteen automakers have used the dangerous airbags in vehicles that are sold all over the world. As such, it is expected that the recall will reach a maximum of 70 million airbags just in the U.S. alone. Owners who have vehicles that may have defective airbags must be proactive in turning their vehicles in to switch them out. These defects are dangerous enough that even an incident that would normally result in minor injuries could become much more serious.
Auto defects, such as dangerous airbags, can result in a life-changing injury or result in a death that would otherwise have been avoidable. A products liability attorney can help determine who could be held liable for the damages and file a lawsuit against those companies. In some cases, the company that sold the vehicle and the manufacturer that made the defective part could both be responsible for providing compensation to the people who have been harmed.
