Over the last several years, automotive recalls have gained international attention due to the fact that they are directly related to thousands of injuries and deaths. The most recent example is the Takata airbag recall, but it's just the latest in a long line of recalls.
The biggest issue with the Takata airbag recall is just how many vehicles it impacts – it's the largest auto recall in US history and affects about 34 million cars in this country alone. Here are the basics of the issue.
- • It involves faulty construction within the airbag chamber.
- • On impact, the airbag can fling out pieces of shrapnel which can impale, cut, and even kill passengers and drivers.
- • The issue affects drivers and passenger side airbags.
- • Higher humidity areas like Florida are undergoing additional recalls related to the issue.
In short, it is another dangerous problem that is confronting drivers throughout the country and around the world, and one that deserves your attention. So just how does this recall – or any auto recall – impact you, and what should you do about it? There are a number of things to keep in mind.
First of all, if you hear of the recall and that it impacts your vehicle, you should immediately follow the directions required to get it repaired. Usually this involves returning the vehicle to a dealership who will replace the faulty parts for you free of charge. You may receive a letter in the mail about the recall, an email, or some other message explaining the situation.
This is important to protect yourself, and it's vital that you understand that if you are aware of the recall or even if you wait months after the recall is announced to do anything about your vehicle, the odds are very slim that you'll be able to seek financial compensation for your injuries.
However, if you are injured before a recall is issued or before you have time to receive notification of the recall, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. You'll need to focus on healing first, but as soon as possible you should contact a
personal injury lawyer. They'll review your case and explain what options you have.
Whether or not you are awarded compensation depends on a number of different things including when the recall was issued, whether or not you were aware of it, and even whether or not the company that manufactured the parts actually knew about the problem. Already, evidence is suggesting that Takata knew about the issue with the airbags but ignored the problem. This is usually a large step towards getting the compensation that you're owed.
If you've been injured in an accident involving a vehicle that has since undergone a recall,
contact our offices today. We have offices throughout the Port Charlotte and Sarasota areas and can help determine exactly what your rights are and how best to proceed. Injuries can be expensive, and you shouldn't have to handle those costs on your own if you're not to blame.
