The aftermath of the defective Takata airbag scandal continues to make headlines. Experts attribute the recent death of a Florida driver to the rupture of a defective air bag that caused shrapnel wounds to the victim’s head. This is presumed to be the 21st death worldwide since 2009 caused by defective Takata airbags. Although the recall of these airbags began in the early 2000s, drivers continue to be injured or killed by exploding airbags.
Takata’s airbag recall sparked the largest auto recall in U.S. history. The recall applied to 42 million cars and 69 million airbag inflators. The defective airbags have been shown to explode with excessive force, causing the metal encasing to explode and send shrapnel in the direction of passengers in the car. As of December, 2017, a report by an independent source stated that only 43 percent of the defective airbags have been replaced. This number is shockingly low given that recalls have been ongoing for the past 15 years.
The accident report for this latest fatality was released in January. It states that the woman died as a result of bruising and bleeding in the brain. The victim, Nichol Barker, was traveling about 30 miles per hour in a Honda Accord on July 19, 2017. Her car was struck by another motorist making a left turn. The report claims that the woman would have otherwise survived the crash had the airbag not exploded.
Barker purchased the Honda Accord from another seller in 2016. The airbag in the car had not been replaced under the recall. It is not clear whether she was aware of the Takata airbag recall that was issued in May, 2015 for the car that she purchased. Honda launched its own investigation of Barker’s death and concluded that she died of injuries sustained from the eruption of the airbag.
Honda has been at the center of this massive recall. The reported deaths associated with defective airbags all occurred in Hondas, except for one. Honda has been pushing car owners to repair their recalled vehicles through various media campaigns. The company has also warned that cars from model years 2001 to 2003 pose an increased risk of injuring or killing drivers.
If you or a member of your family was injured in an accident involving a recalled part, contact Alexander Law Group, LLC. Our exceptional personal injury lawyers will be sure you get the maximum compensation possible. Call 888.777.1776, or contact us online.
