Defective airbags manufactured by Takata may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, sending shrapnel and metal fragments into vehicle occupants. More than 7 million US vehicles are affected by the recalls, and the defective airbags have been blamed for deaths and dozens of injuries, including severe facial disfigurement.
How the defect causes injury
In an improper deployment, the airbag’s inflator can rupture with excessive force, turning metal components into projectiles aimed directly at the driver or passenger the airbag was supposed to protect. The result is that a survivable crash can produce catastrophic injuries, deep lacerations, facial disfigurement, eye injuries, and fatal wounds, caused by the safety device itself.
Who may have a claim
Anyone injured or the family of anyone killed by an airbag deployment in a vehicle included on the recall list may have a claim. The official recall list is maintained at safercar.gov/rs/takata/takatalist.html, and checking whether your vehicle’s make and model is included is a fast first step.
What to do if you were injured
Keep all documentation from the crash, including photos of the vehicle and airbag, the police report, and all medical records. If the vehicle is still accessible, preserving the deployed airbag components matters, they are the physical evidence of how the deployment went wrong.
Talk to us, at no cost
If you or a loved one was injured by an airbag deployment in a recalled vehicle, Pisanchyn Law Firm offers a free, confidential case review, and we do not charge a fee unless we win. Call 1-800-444-5309. This page is part of our mass tort litigation practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my vehicle has a recalled Takata airbag? Check the official recall list at safercar.gov, which is searchable by make and model, or run your VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup.
What makes Takata airbag injuries different from normal crash injuries? The injuries come from the airbag itself, metal fragments propelled by a rupturing inflator, often causing lacerations and facial injuries beyond what the crash alone would have caused.
My crash was minor but my injuries were severe. Does that matter? Yes, that pattern, severe injuries disproportionate to the crash, is exactly what improper airbag deployment cases often look like.
This page is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
