Defective Airbags Cause Fatalities Even in Fender Benders
A recent tragic accident involving a recalled Honda vehicle has cost a Houston father of two his very life. Bloomberg News reports that on Jan. 18, Carlos Solis was involved in a minor fender bender with Honda Accord.
Unfortunately, Solis’ Accord belonged to the group of millions of vehicles that had been recalled for dangerous and defective airbags. Solis died when the airbag in his Accord exploded, ruptured and sent metal shards flying into his torso.
Solis purchased his vehicle last April from a local Houston dealer who was not aware that the vehicle had been recalled. The Accord had been involved in at least two accidents and neither the outstanding recall notice nor the damage from the accidents had ever been remedied.
The airbag in the Honda Accord was produced by the world’s largest airbag supplier to the auto industry: Takata Corporation, a Japan-based auto supplier whose airbags have been installed in tens of millions of vehicles over the last few decades.
Honda released a statement confirming that Solis did indeed die from injuries sustained when his defective airbag exploded. Solis’ tragic death highlights the importance of completing recalls and letting future car owners know about outstanding recall notices on vehicles before they are purchased.
There are more than 45 million vehicles in America that have not had their recalls completed. Of these, more than 5 million vehicles change ownership each year. This rate of change, which makes it difficult for manufacturers to track down vehicles, contributes to the number of dangerous vehicles on the road.
At Peterson & Associates, P.C., many of our clients drive used cars. In order to keep our communities and families as safe as possible, we urge everyone to run their Vehicle Identification Number through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall website.
Consumers can quickly pull up the 15-year recall history on any vehicle provided that they have an accurate VIN. Taking the time to do the research could save your life or the life of someone that you love.
Your Takata Injury Lawyers
The companies that are involved in the massive recalls, whether they supplied the parts or manufactured the cars, are all powerful companies. Takata, the Japanese auto supplier at the heart of the defective airbags, has a large and defiant team of corporate lawyers. This is also true with Honda, General Motors and many others.
At Peterson & Associates, P.C., we are convinced that average Americans will have a difficult time getting the justice to which they are entitled unless they have attorneys on their sides.
For this reason, we offer injured drivers a free initial consultation.
To schedule your free consultation, contact us today.