Hensley Legal Group Is Here for Victims of Unsafe Vehicles
Vehicle manufacturers have a legal obligation to create safe products and warn consumers of potential hazards. Recalls are one way to alert the public that a vehicle is no longer safe. However, even if the manufacturer alerts the public with a recall, they could still be responsible for any injuries suffered.
Hensley Legal Group has represented multiple victims of unsafe vehicles. John Hensley and his team of Indiana personal injury attorneys fight for victims to get the compensation they deserve after a vehicle malfunction.
Takata Airbag Recall
Reports about Takata’s exploding airbags occurred as early as 2001. Takata’s airbags featured a defective inflator and propellant devices that could impale drivers and passengers with shrapnel-like fragments when deployed improperly. At least 20 recalls have been issued concerning Takata’s airbags over the past 15 years.
The Takata airbag scandal got worse in 2014 when The New York Times reported that Honda and Takata knew about the defective inflators as early as 2004, but did not notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or request a recall until late 2008.
The 2008 recall only affected 4,200 vehicles. Today, the recall involves 19 automakers and 69 million inflators in 42 million vehicles, according to CBS News. In May 2016, the Takata airbag recall officially became the largest automotive recall in U.S. history.
In January 2017, three former Takata executives were formally accused of criminal wrongdoing in regards to the way they handled their defective airbag scandal. Arrest warrants were issued for the three executives who allegedly falsified reports to convince automakers that their faulty airbags were safe. Takata Corp. later filed for bankruptcy in June 2017.
At least 20 people have been killed and more than 180 injured by defective Takata airbags. Make sure to check if your vehicle is part of the recall by going to the NHTSA website and entering your vehicle identification number (VIN). The following brands have been included in the recall:
- Audi
- BMW
- Buick
- Cadillac
- Chevrolet
- Chrysler
- Daimler
- Dodge/Ram
- Ferrari
- Ford
- GMC
- Honda
- Infiniti
- Jaguar
- Land Rover
- Lexus
- Lincoln
- Mazda
- Mercedes-Benz
- Mercury
- Mitsubishi
- Nissan
- Pontiac
- Saab
- Scion
- Subaru
- Tesla
- Toyota
- Volkswagen
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury from a Takata airbag, Hensley Legal Group can help.
General Motors (GM) Recall
In February 2014, General Motors (GM) recalled more than a million of its vehicles due to a faulty ignition switch. The faulty switch was responsible for 31 accidents and 13 fatalities. Although GM issued the recall to the public in 2014, GM engineers reportedly had known about the ignition issues since 2001, according to USA Today.
The GM vehicles being recalled included:
- 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
- 2005-2007 Pontiac G5
- 2003-2007 Saturn Ion
- 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR
- 2006-2007 Pontiac Solstice
- 2007 Saturn Sky
If you own one of these vehicles, you can visit GM’s website to find more information about how to get your problem resolved as quickly and safely as possible.
