Details About the Takata Airbag Recall, the Largest in U.S. History

You may have heard about the Takata airbag recall, an issue affecting 42 million vehicles in the United States with exploding airbags, but do you know the details about the case? The recall has been ongoing since 2013 and has grown in scope over the years. A long road riddled with safety negligence and unaccountability makes it difficult to track the number of vehicles affected.

Announced in April 2013, only six vehicle makes were initially identified as affected. Reports have surfaced that Takata and Honda allegedly knew about the dangerous airbags since 2004 but failed to report the issues. A Takata plant in Mexico was found to be allowing a defect rate that was six to eight times the acceptable limit. One of the main contributors to shrapnel explosions is high humidity, and many vehicles in hot, humid climates have been recalled.

Takata denies the New York Times report that it learned of the issue in 2004 and destroyed the evidence. Now, the scope of vehicles affected has expanded to include many more makes and brands of cars operating in different climates. This issue has not only affected Takata; many vehicle manufacturers have also had to pay owners for economic losses and personal injuries. Many of the affected makes and models were only identified after a dangerous explosion.

How Can You Check Your Vehicle for Recalled Parts?

An auto manufacturer is legally required to notify all the owners of affected vehicles that they know of within sixty days the recall is reported. Once you receive the notice, the letter should include details on how to remedy the issue for free. If you suspect your vehicle may have a defective part, you can check safecar.gov to see if there are any recalls for your vehicle. In many cases, recalls are initiated due to consumer reports.

How Do You Report a Potential Auto Defect?

You can file a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) online by filling out a form. Providing the make, model, your vehicle identification number, and any photos or police reports that support your claim will help. You can also call the Vehicle Safety Hotline, powered by the NHTSA, to document your claim. The NHTSA reviews consumer reports and determines whether to contact an auto manufacturer about a potential recall. You may also report the issue to your vehicle manufacturer. Contact us if you are injured. Our team of experienced Lufkin product liability attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC has years of experience proving liability in vehicle accident or injury cases.

Watch Out for Remarketed Defective Used Vehicles

Auto safety recalls are always important to follow. A recent recall involving Takata airbags has resulted in hundreds of injuries and affected almost 42 million cars. Is it possible that a used car dealer, aware of a vehicle’s potentially dangerous recalled products, could still sell the car to someone as long as they let them know that parts of the vehicle are on recall? The answer is yes, and this is the topic of a legal debate between General Motors and two used car dealers. Keep reading to learn ways that dangerous cars are being remarketed.

Ways Defective Cars Are Remarketed

Standard titles on remarketed recall cars include “repaired for safety issues” or “subject to inspection.” These titles are vague, and the real meaning of those terms can be lost in the sales process. The real danger of purchasing one of these vehicles should be made much more evident in the marketing. More like “car contains a potentially dangerous recalled airbag.” This would make it harder to sell the car, but the debate is whether these cars should be resold at all.Laws have been enacted against car manufacturers for selling recalled vehicles, and in 2016, a similar law was passed to regulate the sale of recalled vehicles by car rental agencies. There is no regulation of used-car companies. However, there are laws requiring the dealer to repair the recalled item fully or to disclose to the buyer that the car is still subject to recall.

 Is the Manufacturer or Used Car Dealer Liable?

In the event of a dangerous product recall, both the manufacturer and the used-car dealer may be found liable if certain conditions are met. The used-car dealer is not responsible for having cars with recalled parts. Still, they are responsible for clearly communicating to the vehicle buyer that the vehicle contains recalled products and has been repaired, or that the recalled product in the car is still pending repair. It’s when the remarketing is poorly explained to the buyer or uses overly vague wording to explain the problem clearly. This is where the means of a debate have arisen. The manufacturer of the recalled product is liable for personal injury lawsuits and compensatory damages. These remarketed cars are dangerous, and if you have purchased a used car with a defect, you may be eligible for compensation. Lufkin car accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC are experienced in many kinds of auto accident cases. Injured? Call us today.

Could Drone Technology Keep You Safe in an Emergency?

New drone installations are being introduced in the emergency response field. Imagine that you are in a terrible auto accident on the way up a mountain to go swimming in a lake during the summer. Your car is hit on the left side by an errant driver, pushing you off the road, and your vehicle then careens down a rocky cliff to your right. You regain consciousness and realize your leg is trapped under the vehicle, and rocks surround you. You know that an outsider would have a tough time reaching your car, since boulders shroud the accident site; however, there is an opening overhead. This is where emergency response can fly a drone in the opening; the drone can then assess the damage after you verbally state your location and injuries. This could save the emergency response team countless hours and resources spent locating the crash site and preparing for the injuries you have. This is an extreme case, but advances in technology are helping to keep you safe in emergencies. Keep reading for tips on what to do if you are trapped in an auto accident and what to do after you are safe.

How to React if You Are Trapped After An Auto Accident

• Try to remain calm: This will be very difficult, but in this situation, panicking will drain you of the limited energy you have left. The more energy you conserve, the longer you will be able to fight to stay alive.

• Call out for witnesses: Even if you are in a very remote area, there could be more people listening than you think. Try yelling for help periodically until you get a response. If people saw your accident, they are most likely already calling 911, which is cause for optimism. Utilize your OnStar emergency assistance and hands-free calling technology if possible.

• Have a first-aid kit: Having one in your car could be the difference between life and death in a devastating car accident like the one we described above. Have a box with a flashlight, a blanket, a first-aid kit, and water.

Take Action to Get the Compensation You Deserve

New advances in technology are making it easier to save lives. Despite this progress, people are seriously injured in auto accidents every day that may not be their fault. Suppose you have been in a serious accident and were not the driver at fault. In that case, the car accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC can help you recover the compensation you deserve for injuries sustained in an auto accident.

Emotional Civil Trial Over Scaffold Collapse

On April 8, Travis County District Judge Scott Jenkins heard final arguments in a civil trial involving a construction accident, which led to the wrongful death of three workers.  The scaffold collapse occurred on the University of Texas’s west campus in Austin, where the workers were erecting a condominium. A scaffold collapse led to the death of the workers. The widow of deceased worker Raudel Ramirez Cervitos, as well as the two children he left behind, traveled from Mexico to attend the trial.  The mother of the deceased worker, Joel Irias Cervitos, made the trip from Honduras to attend. Judge Jenkins offered his condolences to the victim’s family members and mentioned losing a son of his own three years ago.  Jenkins and the family members began to tear up in the emotional closing arguments.“The one thing that helped us heal is to love, is to love more,” Jenkins said. “I hope you’re able to do that.”Lawyers representing the families of the victims argue that the scaffold—which American Mast Climber designed—was built without an inspection from a safety engineer. Investigators determined that a rusty bolt had failed on the scaffold before its collapse in the construction accident. Greater Metroplex Interiors was the other third-party company contracted to work on the construction project. American Mast Climber claims that Greater Metroplex Interiors misused the scaffolding.  Greater Metroplex Interiors and another third-party company working on the project, Andres Construction, agreed to a $2.8 million settlement with the families.