Defective Airbags Lawyer

Prior to a crash, the airbags remain tucked away in compartments in the steering wheel, dashboard or side panels. Sensors alert a small canister within the airbag that the vehicle has hit a hard object, which then triggers release of a gas that inflates the bags. Within seconds the fully inflated bags fill the car with a protective cushion.

The canisters of the Takata airbags, however, were filled with a highly volatile gas that would sometimes explode, sending shards of sharp shrapnel flying into the cabin. Many occupants received serious piercing wounds and deep lacerations, which were – in some cases – deadly.

In many cases, the crash was barely bad enough to trigger the airbag deployment, meaning victims who would have walked away with only minor scrapes and bruises instead were killed or severely injured. A high humidity environment, like we have in Florida and Texas, is a primary factor in causing the explosive reaction. Takata knew about the problem approximately a decade before its first recall. Even amidst this clear danger, recall of Takata airbags has been shockingly slow. Therefore, many occupants were injured or died needlessly after the company discovered the defect.