An airbag is a critical component of a car’s safety system, and there is no question that it saves lives. Unfortunately, there is also the risk of an airbag failing to operate correctly and causing serious injuries or death during an accident. Kentucky residents are advised to ensure their vehicle’s airbags are in proper working order and respond quickly to any recalls or maintenance requests.
Drivers became more concerned about airbag safety after major airbag manufacturer Takata recalled 65 to 70 million airbags across 19 different car manufactures. Very high numbers of Honda, Toyota and Subaru vehicles were impacted as well as smaller numbers of vehicles from other manufacturers for model years between 2002 and 2015. The recall was due to a failure of the airbag’s inflator that may cause metal shards to pass through the airbag when it deploys.
While a defective airbag may seem like a minor issue, it can result in unnecessary and serious injuries. Airbags deploy in many accident situations, especially frontal collisions or any time a vehicle stops suddenly. An accident that would normally result in no injuries or minor injuries could prove fatal if a defective airbag deploys incorrectly. It is impossible to know for sure if an airbag is defective without professional inspection and maintenance. Since the projectiles from the airbag can travel throughout the cabin, any defective airbag anywhere in the cabin could cause injury.
Most car defects, including those involving airbags, are identified and corrected by manufacturers via a recall. Recall procedures require that the manufacturer warn all purchasers of the defect and offer repairs or replacement free of charge. If a person suffers injury in an accident due to a failure that was unknown or not recalled, or if the person was not properly notified of the defect or recall, they may have grounds for a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer.