Vehicle technology, in many cases, aims to save our lives in the event of a car accident. In yesterday’s blog post, we told you about a recent study done by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety on many advances in vehicle technology – such as electronic stability control and airbags – that have saved thousands of lives. What happens, though, when those features fail?

By now, we’ve heard about the Takata airbag recall. If you haven’t, we recommend you read our blog post now and take action as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the Takata airbag recall is not the only one of its kind; U.S. federal safety regulators announced earlier this month that an additional 2.1 million airbags must be added to the recall list because they deploy when they’re not supposed to.

Imagine driving your vehicle to work on any given day when all of a sudden its airbag deploys unexpectedly. The airbags suddenly burst into your face, the noise as loud as a gunshot. What would you do? Swerve? Slam the brakes? Have a heart attack?

The truth is that sudden, unexpected emergencies such as random airbag deployment can cause serious issues on the roadway. Drivers are cautioned to take action now before a potential accident occurs as a result of this airbag recall.

The new airbag recall applies to older vehicles made by Toyota, Fiat and Honda. According to Reuters, about 400 cases of failed airbag deployments have been reported; fortunately, no deaths have been reported as a result of the airbag defect although the random deployment has caused multiple personal injuries.

It appears the airbag recall has resulted from a defective chip. Although the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) had recalled the airbags for the noted defect, the airbags still deployed unexpectedly even when fixed under the first recall action, prompting a new recall to be issued in its wake.

WHICH VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED UNDER THIS NEW AIRBG RECALL?

If your vehicle is on the list, please make sure to contact your vehicle manufacturer as soon as possible to find out how to take care of the recall. Recall repairs are done free of charge, so please take your vehicle in as soon as possible.

  • 2002-2003 Jeep Liberty and 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees
  • 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey
  • 2003 Acura MDX
  • 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe
  • Dodge Viper
  • Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix, and Toyota Avalon

WHEN AIRBAG FAILURE CAUSES CAR ACCIDENTS

In some unfortunate cases, airbag failure – whether it fails altogether or simply deploys unexpectedly – can cause a car accident. If you have been injured in a car accident stemming from an airbag failure, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

You may be able to recoup for lost wages, pain and suffering and medical bills. In cases like these, it’s essential you speak with a qualified San Diego car accident lawyer immediately to ensure your legal rights are preserved. Call us today to discuss your case FREE OF CHARGE. The call is completely FREE and there is no charge to retain us as your attorneys. We only collect if we win your case. Call us now: 1-858-551-2090.