Defective Takata Airbag Deployment Accident Lawyer Handles Defective Takata Airbag Accidents Cases Where Defective Airbags Defectively Deployed Causing Fatal or Catastrophic Injury Accidents by Texas Takata Airbag Deployment Accident Lawyer Jason Coomer

Defective airbags often deploy randomly or incorrectly. Further, the unexpected deployment of an airbag on a highway and/or in traffic often causes a serious accident. These accidents often cause catastrophic injuries or death, because the airbag deployed well before impact and did not perform its intended purpose. When a loved one is catastrophically injured or killed by a defective airbag, it can be even worse to know that the manufacturer of the vehicle and airbag were aware of the defective airbag and the potential for a random or incorrect airbag deployment.

If you have lost a loved one in a fatal automobile collision or have been injured by a defective automobile including defective airbags, please feel free to send an e-mail to Texas Defective Airbag Accident Death Lawyer Jason Coomer or please feel free to submit an inquiry via our contact form. Please include the date of the accident, the names of anyone injured or killed in the accident, the location of the accident, as well as the make and model of the vehicles involved in the collision.

Takata Airbags Can Deploy Explosively and Unexpectedly

It was found that some of these airbags could deploy explosively, injuring or even killing car occupants. At the heart of the problem is the airbag’s inflator, a metal cartridge loaded with propellant wafers, which in some cases has ignited with explosive force. If the inflator housing ruptures in a crash, metal shards from the airbag can be sprayed throughout the passenger cabin—a potentially disastrous outcome from a supposedly life-saving device.

Several Automakers Are Aware of Defects in Takata Airbags and The Potential of These Airbags to Deploy Randomly Causing Fatal and Catastrophic Injury Accidents

Automakers have produced tens of millions of vehicles with defective takata airbags. These dangerous vehicles are under recalls, but many are still being driven on our highways and roads. The airbags, made by major parts supplier Takata, were mostly installed in cars from model year 2002 through 2015. There are over 30 manufacturers who have used these airbags are have issued recalls. Below is a list of fourteen (14) large automakers who have used these defective airbags and the vehicle models in which they were used. This list in not a complete list of defective vehicles. These automakers have recalled many of the vehicles to replace frontal airbags on the driver’s side or passenger’s side, or both. The NHTSA has called "this recall the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history.

Defective Takata Airbags Have Been Recalled From 14 Different Manufacturers

Several different makes and models of vehicles have the defective airbags and are currently subject to recalls to replace airbags. To determine if the vehicle you are driving is subject to the airbag recall, please go to the NHTSA web page for the most current information. Below is a list of some of the vehicles that may be included in the recall because of defective airbags.

Acura Takada Airbag Models:

2003 Acura CL
2013-2016 Acura ILX
2013-2014 Acura ILX hybrid
2003-2006 Acura MDX
2007-2016 Acura RDX
2005-2012 Acura RL
2002-2003 Acura 3.2 TL
2009-2014 Acura TL
2010-2013 Acura ZDX

Honda Takada Airbag Models:

2001-2007 Honda Accord - Driver’s side airbag
2003-2007 Honda Accord - Passenger side airbag
2001-2005 Honda Civic - Driver’s & passenger side airbag
2002-2011 Honda CR-V - Driver’s side airbag
2011-2015 Honda CR-Z
2003-2011 Honda Element - Driver’s side airbag
2010-2014 Honda FCX Clarity
2009-2013 Honda Fit
2013-2014 Honda Fit EV
2010-2014 Honda Insight
2002-2004 Honda Odyssey - Driver’s side airbag
2003-2008 Honda Pilot - Driver’s side airbag
2006-2014 Honda Ridgeline - Driver’s side airbag

Ford Takada Airbag Models:

2004-2006 Ranger - Driver’s and/or passenger side airbag
2005-2006 GT - Driver’s and/or passenger side airbag
2005-2014 Mustang - Driver’s side airbag

General Motors Takada Airbag Models:

2007-2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500
2007-2008 GMC Sierra 2500/3500
2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe
2005 Saab 9-2x
2003-2011 Saab 9-3
2010-2011 Saab 9-5
2008-2009 Saturn Astra

BMW Takada Airbag Models:

2008-2013 1 Series (128i, 135i, M)
2000 323i / 328i
2001-2013 M3
2002-2003 M5
2002-2006 325Ci
2002-2006 330Ci
2002-2003 325iT
2002-2003 325XiT
2006-2012 325XiT
2001-2011 325i / 325Xi
2006-2013 328i / 328Xi / 328i xDrive
2001-2011 330i / 330Xi
2006-2013 335i / 335Xi / 335 xDrive
2009-2011 335d
2007-2013 335is
2002-2003 525i / 530i / 540i
2013-2015 X1 sDrive 28i / xDrive28i / xDrive30i
2003 X5 3.0i / X5 4.4i
2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i / xDrive35i / xDrive48i / xDrive50i / M
2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d
2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i / xDrive50i / M

Mazda Takada Airbag Models:

2004-2006 B-Series Truck - Driver and/or passenger side airbag
2003-2008 Mazda6 - Driver and/or passenger side airbag
2006-2007 MazdaSpeed6 - Driver and/or passenger side airbag
2004-2005 MPV - Driver and/or passenger side airbag
2004-2008 Mazda RX-8 - Driver and/or passenger side airbag

Mercedes-Benz Takada Airbag Models:

2005 C230 Kompressor
2006-2007 C230
2008-2011 C300
2008-2011 C300 4Matic
2005 C320
2006-2011 C350
2009-2011 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
2010-2011 E350
2010-2011 E350 4Matic
2011 E350 Cabriolet
2010-2011 E550
2010-2011 E550 4Matic
2011 E550 Cabriolet
2010-2011 E63 AMG
2009-2010 GL320 BlueTec 4Matic
2011-2012 GL350 BlueTec 4Matic
2009-2012 GL450 4Matic
2009-2012 GL550 4Matic
2010-2012 GLK350
2010-2012 GLK350 4Matic
2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic
2009-2011 ML350
2009-2011 ML350 4Matic
2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid
2009-2011 ML550 4Matic
2009-2011 ML63 AMG
2007-2008 SLK280
2007-2008 SLK350
2007-2008 SLK55 AMG
2011-2014 SLS AMG
2012 SLS AMG Cabriolet
2013-2014 SLS AMG GT
2009-2010 R320 CDI 4Matic
2009-2012 R350 4Matic
2011-2012 R350 BlueTec 4Matic

Mitsubishi Takada Airbag Models:

2004-2006 Lancer
2004-2006 Lancer Evolution
2004 Lancer Sportback
2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider

Infiniti Takada Airbag Models:

2003-2005 Infiniti FX - Passenger side
2006 Infiniti M35/M45 - Passenger side
2001-2004 Infiniti I30/I35 - Passenger side
2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 - Passenger side

Nissan Takada Airbag Models:

2001-2003 Nissan Maxima - Passenger side
2002-2004 Nissan Pathfinder - Passenger side
2002-2006 Nissan Sentra - Passenger side

Subaru Takada Airbag Models:

2003-2005 Baja - Passenger side
2003-2008 Legacy - Passenger side
2003-2008 Outback - Passenger side
2004-2005 Impreza (include WRX/STi) - Passenger side

Lexus Takada Airbag Models:

2002-2007 Lexus SC - Passenger side

Toyota Takada Airbag Models:

2003-2007 Toyota Corolla - Passenger side
2003-2007 Toyota Matrix - Passenger side
2004-2005 Toyota RAV4
2002-2007 Toyota Sequoia - Passenger side
2003-2006 Toyota Tundra - Passenger side

Audi Takada Airbag Models:

2005-2013 Audi A3
2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabrio
2010-2011 Audi A5 Cabrio
2009-2012 Audi Q5

Volkswagen Takada Airbag Models:

2009-2014 Volkswagen CC
2012-2014 Volkswagen Eos
2010-2014 Volkswagen Golf
2010-2014 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen
2006-2010 Volkswagen Passat
2012-2014 Volkswagen Passat

Defective Takata Airbag Accidents are the Basis of Several Lawsuits

Defective Takata Airbags have caused several fatal and catastrophic injury accidents. Many of these accidents have required lawsuits to seek compensation for families of the deceased or those catastrophically injured in unnecessary accidents. In reviewing these lawsuits, lawyers need to know the make and model of the vehicle. They also need access to the crashed vehicle as well as access to the accident scene and copies of any police report or accident investigation.

Defective Takata Airbag Accidents Viewed Through The Crashworthiness Doctrine under Texas Law and Federal Law

Defective Automobile Accident Lawsuit Crashworthiness cases involve claims such as defective Takata airbags where a design defect caused or enhanced the injuries of a vehicle’s occupants during an automobile crash. To identify a crashworthiness claim, one must examine the interplay among the circumstances of the accident, the performance of the vehicle during the accident, and the injuries suffered. Such defects may cause a minor injury automobile collision to become a fatal automobile collision or cause enhanced injuries by failing to provide suitable protection from injury or death in foreseeable automobile accidents. Crashworthiness lawsuits have taken many forms, both in Texas litigation and throughout state and federal courts.

Texas courts have made it clear that under Texas law and the crashworthiness doctrine “a manufacturer and retailer may be held strictly liable in tort for a defectively designed automobile that enhances the injuries of the plaintiff but does not cause the accident.” Further, the defendant is liable only for “enhancement damages,” namely, that portion of the damage or injury caused by the defective design over and above the damage or injury that probably would have occurred as a result of the impact or collision absent the defective design. In Shipp v. General Motors Corp., 750 F.2d 418 (5th Cir. 1985), a roof crush case, the Fifth Circuit found no Texas law explicitly answering the question of how the enhanced damages would have to be determined, but in its examination of Texas cases the court was convinced that the plaintiff need not carry such a burden: “We are persuaded that Texas courts would conclude that it would be illogically harsh to force a plaintiff to segregate causation in crashworthiness cases, where ‘the collision, the defect, and the injury are interdependent and . . . viewed as a combined event.’” Shipp, 750 S.W.2d at 426 (quoting Turner, 584 S.W.2d at 848). According to Shipp, forcing the plaintiff “to identify in her proof the precise damages she would have sustained had the product been properly designed, would shift from proof of a producing cause of injury to sole producing cause” and would constitute a retreat from the Texas rule “that a defect need only be a ‘producing cause’ of injury and that there may be more than one such cause.” Id. at 425. Thus, according to Shipp, the producing cause issue is not modified in a crashworthiness case; as in any defect case, the plaintiff must prove that the alleged defect was a producing cause of the injuries suffered.

Fatal Crash Defective Seat Belt Lawsuits, Catastrophic Injury Defective Crashworthiness Seat Belt Lawsuits, and Car Wreck Defective Seat Belt Lawsuits (Product Liability Defective Seat Belt Lawsuits)

Serious abdominal, head, neck, shoulder, facial and leg injuries are common results of seatbelt failure. The cause may be poor design of the seat latch, failure of the belt to catch when brakes are applied, poorly designed pressure points where the lap or shoulder harness cut into the body, or weakness or tears in the seat belt itself.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Conducts Investigations of Defective Automobiles with Defective Airbags, Defective Tires, Defective Roof Design, Defective Accelerators, and Defective Brakes (NHTSA Automobile Defective Product Recalls)

"Approximately 42,000 lives are lost annually on our Nation’s highways. Traffic crashes are the primary cause of debilitating injuries in the United States and the number one killer of Americans under the age of 34. In addition to staggering emotional costs, the annual economic loss to society because of these crashes, in terms of worker productivity, medical costs, insurance costs, etc., is estimated at more than $150 billion. Clearly, there is a need for dramatic improvement in motor vehicle safety. Getting unsafe vehicles off the road is integral to improving safety and saving lives."

"The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (originally enacted in 1966 and now recodified as 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301) gives the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the authority to issue vehicle safety standards and to require manufacturers to recall vehicles that have safety-related defects or do not meet Federal safety standards. Since then, more than 390 million cars, trucks, buses, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and mopeds, as well as 46 million tires, 66 million pieces of motor vehicle equipment, and 42 million child safety seats have been recalled to correct safety defects."

"Manufacturers voluntarily initiate many of these recalls, while others are either influenced by NHTSA investigations or ordered by NHTSA via the courts. If a safety defect is discovered, the manufacturer must notify NHTSA, as well as vehicle or equipment owners, dealers, and distributors. The manufacturer is then required to remedy the problem at no charge to the owner. NHTSA is responsible for monitoring the manufacturer’s corrective action to ensure successful completion of the recall campaign."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducts defect investigations and administers safety recalls to support its mission to improve safety on our nation's highways. NHTSA is authorized to order manufacturers to recall and repair vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment when investigations indicate they contain serious safety defects in their design, construction, or performance. NHTSA also monitors the adequacy of manufacturers' recall campaigns. Before initiating an investigation, NHTSA carefully reviews the body of consumer complaints and other available data to determine whether a defect trend may exist.

United States and Texas Catastrophic Injury and Fatal Shuttle and Bus Accident Lawyers for Bus Accident Lawsuits

Texas Defective Crashworthiness Automobile lawyer, Jason S. Coomer, helps individuals that have been seriously injured and the families of people that have been killed as a result of defective air bags, defective rollover design, defective roof design, defective safety restraint design, defective steering column design, or other a defective crashworthiness automobile design or part. If you have a question about a defective air bag or defective automobile claims, contact Austin Texas Defective Automobile Crashworthiness Fatal Accident lawyer Jason Coomer.