Butler, Wooten & Fryhofer Has Successfully Handled Airbag Defects Similar to Current Takata Recall
Possibility of metal shards from defective airbag deployment systems causing serious injury triggers recall by Japanese Manufacturer Takata of defective airbags installed in certain Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Honda and GM vehicles.
ATLANTA, GA, April 19, 2013
TK Holdings ('Takata') recently announced a massive recall of defective airbags on more than three million vehicles in use in the United States. The potentially dangerous airbags were installed as original parts in the following:- Toyota: 2001-2003 Corolla, Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia and Lexus SC 430
- Mazda: 2003-2004 Mazda 6 and 2004 RX-8
- Nissan: 2001-2003 Maxima, Infiniti FX, Infiniti QX4, Pathfinder and Sentra
- Honda: 2002-2003 CR-V, 2001-2003 Civic and the 2002 Odyssey
- General Motors: 2003 Pontiac Vibe
All vehicles involved require inspection to confirm that a defective airbag was installed and, if so, replacement of the defective airbag system.
According to a Defect Information Report filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), the inflating system in the defective airbags can burst or explode when the airbag inflates. The metal canister may be broken into metal shrapnel by the force of inflation; those metal shards may then pierce the fabric of the airbag and cause serious injuries to anyone within the cabin of the car.
Lawyer Leigh May of Butler, Wooten & Fryhofer has seen the devastating consequences of a poorly manufactured airbag that, instead of serving as protection for drivers and their passengers, serves to threaten their safety.
In 2010, Kristy Williams was stopped at a red light in Georgia when the airbags in her 2001 Honda Civic spontaneously deployed. The airbag in Ms. Williams' Civic had a similar defect to the current problem announced by Takata. She was hit by metal shards from the canister that housed the airbag's inflation propellant; the shards were sharp enough to penetrate the fabric of the airbag as well as seriously puncture her neck and carotid artery.
Ms. Williams required several surgeries to correct the injury caused by the defective airbag. She suffered seizures and experienced several strokes related to the injuries caused by the defective airbag.
The defective driver's-side airbag in Ms. Williams' Civic was also manufactured by Takata. Within nine months, Attorney Leigh May had negotiated a settlement with both Honda and Takata to compensate Ms. Williams for the injuries caused by the defective product.
Despite Takata's assertions that the recent airbag recall has resulted in no serious injuries, it is certainly possible that a defective airbag that sprays metal pieces during the inflation process can cause permanent physical damage, as it did in Ms. Williams' case.
If you have experienced issues with a defective airbag, the attorneys of Butler, Wooten & Fryhofer can help you assert your rights against the airbag and vehicle manufacturer that caused your injuries. Contact the Atlanta or Columbus, Georgia office online or at 800-233-4086 for a free consultation.
Butler, Wooten & Fryhofer represents those who have been injured in Georgia as well as across the United States when defective auto parts have resulted in serious or fatal personal injuries. The firm has established a reputation for achieving substantial verdicts and settlements on behalf of injury victims and their families throughout the country.
Website: www.butlerwooten.com