Airbags have been responsible for saving many lives that otherwise would have been lost as the result of an accident. Recently, many vehicles have been recalled due to a known defect in the airbag. Most dealerships will replace the faulty airbag with one that is safe at no cost to the car owner. However, some who have been injured and family members of people who have lost their lives as a result of the faulty airbag have filed lawsuits.
The family of a Fort Bend County, Texas teenager has filed a lawsuit against the company that manufactured the airbag that killed the girl during an accident.
The family of Huma Hanif filed the lawsuit alleging that her 2002 Honda Civic had a faulty Takata airbag system. Hanif was involved in an accident where she rear-ended another vehicle on FM 762 at Gonyo Road on March 31st.
The family has named Honda along with the companies that sold and maintained Hanif’s vehicle in the lawsuit as well.
Attorney Mo Aziz says that a missing piece of metal in the airbag was the cause of Hanif’s death. Aziz also lays blame on the use of ammonium nitrate to inflate the airbag.
In a news conference earlier in April, police stated that a metal piece from the airbag cut and killed Hanif. They asserted that had it not been for the piece of metal, Hanif would have survived the crash.
Sheriff Troy Nehls stated, “Our investigation revealed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the right neck area, which severed her jugular vein and carotid artery.” Nehls also went on to state that the piece of metal found in Hanif’s neck came from the airbag in her car.
Hanif’s death is the 10th known to be attributed to the faulty Takata inflator. There have been more than 100 injuries as a result of the malfunction. The airbags have been the subject of the largest automotive recall in history.
Honda issued their own statement regarding Hanif’s car as a part of the recalls:
“Multiple mailed recall notices were sent over the course of several years to registered owners of this vehicle, including the current registered owner. Our records indicate that the recall repair was never completed.”
Takata inflators can explode with too much force, causing shrapnel to be throw at drivers and passengers in the vehicle.
If you or a family member have suffered injury as a result of a Takata airbag inflator, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the law offices of John Foy & Associates. Our “Strong Arm” attorneys will help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today.