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01/22/16   |   By

Latest Air Bag Death Reveals Inefficiencies in U.S. Recall System | DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog

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Last July, the driver of a Honda Accord died in an accident due to a faulty Takata air bag – one of the models recalled by Takata in a massive company move. This latest tragedy highlights the vivid dangers posed by defective car safety products.

Per the Los Angeles Times: “The accident occurred in July near Pittsburgh. The teenage driver, who was not identified, was in a 2001 Honda Accord, which has been under recall.

“We are working hard to understand this crash and the cause of the injuries that resulted in this fatality,” American Honda said in a statement. The company said it had not yet had an opportunity to inspect the vehicle.”

Honda reports that it made repeated attempts to notify the owner of the needed repairs from 2010 to 2012 but received no response. Last July, the ownership of the un-repaired car changed hands just prior to the fatal crash.

U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Edward Markey, D-Mass issued a joint statement on the matter: “The identification of yet another preventable death – this time a young boy and well after when this safety defect was first made known – reiterates the urgent need for swift recall of all cars with these potentially defective airbags.”

Critics say the auto industry needs to address issues with the recall system. Repairs can take years to complete, and a substantial percentage of defective cars never receive the needed servicing. Automakers might be better served by devising a more modern system of alerting owners to the dangers involved in driving recalled vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also recently expanded the Takata recall to include more Honda, Subaru and Mazda models. Motorists can go to http://www.safercar.gov/, a NHTSA-run website, to check and see whether their vehicles are on the recall list. The auto companies make the repairs free of charge.

Replacement parts are not available for every recall model – this problem can lead to extensive delays. Owners should find alternative transportation until their vehicles are safe to drive. For more thorough information on Takata story see here: Update on Takata Airbag Recall and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About It.

Call our Washington D.C. auto accident attorneys for a free consultation about your potential case.

Regan Zambri Long
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