Potentially Defective Air-Bags Linked to Four Deaths in Car Accidents

Car accidents are terrible events. At the very best they are scary and can be fatal at their worst. Luckily, cars are built with safety mechanisms intended to mitigate some of the harm caused by accidents. Unfortunately, sometimes even these devices can contribute to the damage done. For example, recently four traffic deaths have been linked to defective air-bags produced by the Japanese company Takat Corp.

Thomson Reuters reports that on October 2, 2014, a woman was involved in an accident with another car in Orlando, Florida. During the accident, the woman’s air bag exploded and, like a grenade, sent shrapnel into the 51-year-old woman. The Florida medical examiner reported that the shrapnel caused stab like wounds and cut through the trachea. Sadly, she died as a result of the accident. The victim suffered other head trauma during the accident and it is not clear whether she would have survived the air bag explosion alone.

Dr. Jan Garavaglia, the medical examiner, reported that the neck injuries were not injuries that are normally sustained from an air bag deploying. While the final medical report is still forthcoming, professionals at the scene of the accident reported that the injuries were not consistent with “crash injuries.” The article reports that there were no broken windows at the scene of the accident.

The response to accident and potential problems with the air bags is ongoing. The article reports that the company itself has not had an opportunity to inspect Ms. Tran’s vehicle. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is in contact with the local authorities and has stated it will do what is necessary to protect consumers.

Dangerous & Defective Products Lawyer

The confusion in this case is a good example of the problems that often surround assigning culpability in these instances. An experienced attorney can often get to the bottom of these cases and help to hold defective equipment designers accountable. If you have been injured because of the failure of vehicle safety equipment, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC might be able to help. We are experts in aiding those who have been injured as a result of some lapse in the design of safety equipment. Contact us today to see what we might be able to do to get you relief.