The death of a man in Baton Rouge, Louisiana due to a defective air bag marks the 20th fatality linked to the Takata air bag recall. According to the Fox News report, the air bag upon deploying sprayed shrapnel and fatally injured the driver. When the driver’s Honda was inspected, it was found that an older 2002 air bag was used to replace the 2004’s original model. In the other recorded accidents, the fatally injured drivers also sustained shrapnel injuries due to faulty Takata air bags.
The national recall of over a million vehicles has been ongoing for 15 years now. According to the report, there is a 50% chance that one of Takata’s most dangerous air bag parts can deploy and probably kill the driver. This part can be found in 2001-2003 Honda Civic models which are still being unknowingly driven daily. Auto companies affected, including Mercedes-Benz, have yet to reach a 50% completion in the recall and repair of these dangerous vehicles. That’s over 30 million vehicles still retaining the Takata air bag and placing drivers at significant risk.
With 20 deaths and just as many injuries, the Japanese Takata company has filed bankruptcy and assets will be used to fund the recovery of victims and repairs for the remaining faulty vehicles. Defective automotive parts are a real danger than can affect any driver, not just those with Takata air bags equipped in their vehicles. In late December 2017, over 1.5 million Ram trucks were recalled due to faulty gear-shifters moving out of park. Chrysler is aware of seven potential injuries that were caused by this defect and are attempting to fix the issue quickly.
If you’ve been in an accident and suspect a defective vehicle part may be at fault, contact the experienced attorneys at Brandi Law Firm. We’ll review your case and discuss your legal options.