Takata Airbag Recall Lawsuit Attorney

February 11, 2019 - Latest Takata Recall Involves Subaru Vehicles:

Takata airbags that were installed into millions of vehicles beginning in the early 2000s led to the largest recall in automotive history. The airbags, which use the chemical ammonium nitrate to initiate deployment, can be deadly. The chemical degrades over time and faster in warm, humid climates. This degradation can cause the explosion of the airbag deployment to send shrapnel flying through the car. These explosions have killed almost two dozen people worldwide and led to hundreds of injuries. The airbags were installed by several manufacturers across dozens of models. Even luxury vehicles have not been exempted from the latest batch of recalls, as Fortune reports.

Earlier this month, another 1.7 million vehicles were added to the growing number of automobiles recalled for defective Takata airbags.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration added the vehicles to the list of recalls on Friday.

The following automakers were affected by the newest batch of recalls:

• Subaru: 826,144 vehicles recalled

• Mercedes: 288,779 vehicles recalled

• Volkswagen: 119, 394 vehicles recalled

• BMW: Just over 266,000 vehicles recalled

• Daimler Vans: 159,689 vehicles recalled

• Tesla: 68.763 vehicles recalled

• Ferrari: 11,176 vehicles recalled

You can check to see if your vehicle is affected by visiting the NHTSA website. Dealers will replace the defective airbags at no cost to the owners.

Have you been injured by a Takata airbag? We can help. Call today.

January 12, 2019 - Two Million More Cars Added To Recall List:

The Takata airbag recall has been the largest automotive recall in history, and it is still growing. The airbags, which use a chemical called ammonium nitrate to deploy, have been found to be defective. The chemical can degrade over time, with the degradation being more prominent in hot, humid climates. This degradation can cause the airbag to deploy with too much force, sending deadly shrapnel flying through the vehicle. The airbags have been responsible for nearly two dozen deaths and hundreds of injuries worldwide.

WJLA reports on the recall expanding yet again, adding nearly two million more vehicles to the recall lists.

While Ford issued a recall last week, this week, Toyota announced that it is adding another 1.3 million vehicles to the ever-expanding recall list.

The newest recall affects Toyota’s Lexus and Scion brands.

The vehicles were manufactured between 2010 and 2017. Previously, Toyota announced the recall of Scion and Lexus models manufactured between 2003 and 2013.

Toyota will be notifying owners of affected vehicles in late January. However, if you have moved or recently purchased an affective vehicle, you are urged not to wait on the notification from Toyota.

Toyota has provided a website where owners can check to see if their vehicle is on the recall list here.

All you need to do is input your vehicle’s VIN number and it will let you know if you need to have your airbag replaced. If you do, contact your dealer as soon as possible to schedule the repairs, which are free of charge.

Have you been injured by a defective Takata airbag? We can help. Call today.

January 11, 2019 - 2 Million More Vehicles Added To Recall List, Lexus And Scion Brands:

The Takata airbag recall has been the largest automotive recall in history, and it is still growing. The airbags, which use a chemical called ammonium nitrate to deploy, have been found to be defective. The chemical can degrade over time, with the degradation being more prominent in hot, humid climates. This degradation can cause the airbag to deploy with too much force, sending deadly shrapnel flying through the vehicle. The airbags have been responsible for nearly two dozen deaths and hundreds of injuries worldwide.

WJLA reports on the recall expanding yet again, adding nearly two million more vehicles to the recall lists.

While Ford issued a recall last week, this week, Toyota announced that it is adding another 1.3 million vehicles to the ever-expanding recall list.

The newest recall affects Toyota’s Lexus and Scion brands.

The vehicles were manufactured between 2010 and 2017. Previously, Toyota announced the recall of Scion and Lexus models manufactured between 2003 and 2013.

Toyota will be notifying owners of affected vehicles in late January. However, if you have moved or recently purchased an affected vehicle, you are urged not to wait on the notification from Toyota.

Toyota has provided a website where owners can check to see if their vehicle is on the recall list here.

All you need to do is input your vehicle’s VIN number and it will let you know if you need to have your airbag replaced. If you do, contact your dealer as soon as possible to schedule the repairs, which are free of charge.

Have you been injured by a defective Takata airbag? We can help. Call today.

January 2, 2019 - Over 16 Million Takata Airbags Still On The Roads:

The auto industry’s biggest recall is far from being over. Even as automakers continue to recall more makes and models for the defective airbags, millions of vehicles with the defective airbags still remain on U.S. roadways. The airbags, which contain the chemical ammonium nitrite, which degrades, can explode with too much force, sending deadly shrapnel flying through vehicles. This shrapnel has led to nearly two dozen fatalities and hundreds of injuries worldwide. ABC 7 Chicago reports that there are still 167 million autos with the faulty airbags on the road.

It’s been more than three years since the federal government stepped in and took over the management of recalls involving vehicles with the deadly airbags.

Still, one-third of the vehicles that have been recalled are still on the roads, without having had their airbags repaired or replaced.

The annual report, which was released in late December, was made by the government and a court-appointed recall monitor.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, recall repair rates across all manufacturers have increased 30% over the year.

Still, out of the 50 million recalled vehicles, some 16.7 million have yet to be repaired. Add to that about 10 million more recalls that are scheduled to take place in January.

Critics of the NHTSA say that they are refusing to enforce consent orders that were supposed to speed up repairs and hold both Takata, who declared bankruptcy, and automakers responsible. They point to the fact that the report was issued on the Friday before Christmas as an attempt to “bury” the report.

For their part, automakers have been using inventive methods to try and reach out to the owners of vehicles. Home visits and postcards in different languages are among the sophisticated attempts to reach owners of affected vehicles. Some manufacturers are sending repair teams out to the owner’s homes to repair the vehicles.

According to the report, 7.2 million inflators have been repaired over the past year.

Have you been injured by a defective Takata airbag? We can help. Call today.

December 19, 2018 - More Toyotas Added To Takata Recall List:

The Takata airbag recall, which has been ongoing since Honda recalled the first vehicles with the defective airbags in 2008. The airbags, which utilize an unstable chemical to inflate, may do so with explosive force, sending metal shrapnel flying inside the vehicle. Some of the incidents have been deadly – more than 20 deaths have been attributed to the defective airbags worldwide. Additionally, there have been hundreds of injuries. Takata had to declare bankruptcy in the wake of the scandal, and put away billions of dollars for potential litigation. Automakers that used Takata airbags have also been the subjects of lawsuits and recalls, which have affected millions of vehicles.

USA Today reports that Toyota is adding more vehicles to the recall list.

Toyota is recalling another 65,000 vehicles in the United States that are tied to the Takata airbag defects.

Technicians that repair the affected vehicles will either replace the affected inflator or the entire airbag unit.

These are just the most recent of an estimated 37 million recalled vehicles that affect nearly every manufacturer. The recalls are happening in phases to allow factories to be able to produce the replacement parts and dealerships to manage the repairs.

The vehicles involved in the current recall have already had their airbags replaced: with more Takata airbags with inflators that contained the suspect chemical: ammonium nitrate.

The recall affects the following vehicles:

• Certain versions of the 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla
• 2002-2005 Toyota Sequoia
• 2003-2005 Toyota Tundra
• 2002-2005 Lexus SC

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified directly. Repairs will be at no cost to the owners.

Have you been injured by a Takata airbag? We can help. Call today.

November 20, 2018 - EPA Announces New Rule For Handling Takata Recall:

Ever since the Takata airbag scandal dropped in 2015, the biggest struggle has been getting affected vehicles repaired. Almost every major automaker has been affected by the defective airbags, which may explode with too much force, sending deadly shrapnel flying at drivers and passengers. Most of the issue with getting the airbags repaired or replaced lies in simply getting the current owners to respond to recall notices. Some dealerships have had problems getting replacement parts to fix the airbags. However, regulatory agencies hope to ease regulations which may be slowing recall efforts, as CNet reports.

This week, the EPA announced an interim rule changing how dealerships, salvage operations, and other industry businesses handle Takata airbag inflators and other non-Takata airbag components.

The goal of the interim rule is to hopefully make it easier for these companies to be able to dispose of the parts and components. The agency hopes that a loosening of these restrictions will help to make it easier to get the airbags repaired and replaced.

No, this doesn’t mean that dealerships and repair facilities will be able to just toss out the airbag components into the dumpster. Instead, they will be able to send the parts and components to a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) compliant facility and allow the facility to deal with the disposal.

The EPA hopes that by allowing dealerships and repair facilities to send the parts to a complaint facility, it will cut out the expectation that the dealerships and repair facilities have the expertise necessary to dispose of these parts.

The FDA hopes that this will help to speed repair and replacement efforts.

Have you been injured by a Takata airbag? We can help. Call today.

November 12, 2018 - Grassroots Program Forms To Get Takata Bags Replaced:

The ongoing Takata airbag scandal and resulting recall have been in the news for years now, but people still aren’t getting their airbags fixed or replaced. One reason can be that the recall notices aren’t reaching the current owner. Some of the vehicles were purchased used through private owners rather than dealers and may be on their second, third, or fourth owner.

Even seeing news reports on the nightly news or in a newspaper might not be enough to galvanize someone who relies on their vehicle to act. Honda and other motor companies have door-to-door teams reaching out to owners, and even that can prove hard to get owners to act. Sometimes, it takes someone they know – a neighbor, a friend, or a coworker being affected.

The Houston Chronicle reports on a grassroots campaign to get owners to have their airbags replaced.

In Texas alone, 2.1 million Takata airbags across many different makes and model still need to be replaced. Operation Find & Fix was launched in October with an aim to get the defective Takata airbags still out on the road replaced or fixed.  The project aims to get the word out about the defective airbags in communities with a high number of older vehicles that also experience high heat and humidity. They are holding recall-check events at schools and places of worship. They are also engaging local dealerships and repair places in the hopes of getting owners to get their airbags replaced.

One thing that the outreach hopes to address is the myth that the replacement parts are hard to come by. This may be true for some vehicles, but auto manufacturer Honda says that dealers have adequate replacement parts. The dealerships are even offering loaner vehicles to those needing repair.

Mazda has joined in the efforts to get the word out about their recalled vehicles as well. As many as 93,000 Mazda vehicles in Texas needing repair. They have been sending letters, making phone calls, and engaging targeted online and digital ads to stress the importance of getting the affected vehicles fixed.

Have you been injured by a Takata airbag? We can help. Call today.

October 26, 2018 - Mazda Adds More Vehicles To The Takata Recall:

The Takata airbag recall has rocked the automotive industry since erupting in 2015. It has caused the largest recall in automotive history, with millions of vehicles being recalled to date. That recall list is still expected to grow. The airbags can deploy with too much force, sending metal shrapnel flying through the vehicle. To date, there have been 23 deaths and hundreds of injuries caused by the defective airbags. Now, as Wear TV reports, Mazda has recalled another 156,000 vehicles.

On Tuesday, Mazda announced that another 156,000 vehicles were being recalled due to defective airbags made by the manufacturer Takata. The recall affects cars and crossover SUVs made by the automaker.

The latest recall covers the following vehicles:

• 2010 – 2013 Mazda 6 Sedans
• 2010 – 2012 Mazda CX-7 Crossover SUVs
• 2010 – 2015 Mazda CX-9 Crossover SUVs
• 2011 Mazda RX-8 Sports Cars

The vehicles in the latest recalls have front passenger-side airbags inflators that may explode in a crash. This could send shrapnel flying at the vehicle’s occupants, injuring, and in some cases, killing them.

Depending on the vehicle, the recalls will affect only vehicles that have been sold in or reside in certain states. The states that are primarily affected are states with warmer temperatures and high humidity. However, some of the recalls apply to every vehicle no matter the state where they were purchased or reside.

Owners affected by the recall will begin receiving notification in mid-November. Dealers will also be made aware of which vehicles are subject to the recall.

The faulty airbag components will be replaced by Mazda dealers at no cost to the owner.

Have you been injured by a Takata airbag? We can help. Call today.

October 24, 2018 - New Takata Lawsuit Due To Vision Injury:

Since breaking in 2015, the Takata airbag scandal has rocked the automotive industry, leading to industry-wide recalls. The airbags can explode with too much force, sending deadly and disabling shrapnel flying through vehicles. Almost two dozen deaths and hundreds of injuries have been reported worldwide. This has led to the company, Takata, based in Japan, to declare bankruptcy both at home and in the United States. The company has also been accused in a number of class-action lawsuits, along with numerous automakers. The Pittsburgh Legal Examiner reports on one of the latest lawsuits.

A North Carolina woman is the latest to file a lawsuit concerning injuries she suffered as the result of a Takata airbag.

The woman, whose name was withheld, claims that she was driving a Nissan Sentra through Charlotte, North Carolina when she was involved in an accident. She claims that her Takata airbag exploded, sending shrapnel flying at her. Some of that shrapnel ended up in her eye.

Her eye later developed an infection, requiring several operations to treat it. She now claims that she still has to undergo treatment and has suffered from a loss of vision in that eye as well as cosmetic damage.

The North Carolina woman is not alone in her claims that the Takata airbag led to the injury that caused vision loss.

Another woman in South Texas claims that she, too, suffered vision damage after the airbag in her 2012 Honda Civic exploded when it deployed. She suffered from a tear to her left eyeball.

Another man, this time in Oregon, was driving a 1999 Nissan Altima when an accident caused his airbag to deploy. He suffered from orbital fractures and a ruptured left eyeball. He later had to have the eye removed.

The North Carolina woman is seeking in excess of $75,000 in damages and names both Takata and Nissan in her lawsuit.

Have you been injured by a Takata airbag? We can help. Call today.

October 12, 2018 - Honda Sued For Not Replacing Airbag Soon Enough, Man Injured:

The Takata airbag recall is the largest recall in the history of automotive recalls. Several million vehicles worldwide have been affected by the recall. The airbags, which can explode with too much force, are responsible for nearly two dozen deaths worldwide as well as hundreds of injuries. Recently, Honda announced that it was recalling some 1.4 million more vehicles, some of them being the company’s Acura models. Unfortunately, those recalls came too late for one Puerto Rican man, who is now suing the company for injuries caused to him by an exploding airbag, as Auto Body News reports.

According to the lawsuit, Juan Carlos Veras-Rodriguez was driving a 2002 Acura 3.2 TL on September 6, 2017, when the Acura lightly bumped another car in the front.

The collision, which was not serious in itself, caused the Takata airbag to deploy, sending shrapnel flying, which struck Veras-Rodriguez in the face, neck, and chest. The shrapnel caused lacerations, which, according to the lawsuit, left the plaintiff “mutilated and scarred.”

Veras-Rodriguez says that the scarring has impacted his self-confidence and sense of security.

The lawsuit further alleges that Veras-Rodriguez would not be in this condition had the Acura not been fitted with the dangerous Takata airbags.

In addition, the lawsuit claims that Veras-Rodriguez did not begin receiving notices about the recall until about a month after his accident. The recall notices said that the Takata airbags could be deployed even in minor accidents, such as the one that Veras-Rodriguez was involved in.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and is against American Honda Motor Company, et al.

Have you been injured by a Takata airbag? We can help. Call today.

October 2, 2018 - Honda Announces More Airbag Recalls In Acura Models:

The Takata airbag recall, which has already been the largest airbag recall in history, is growing larger. The defective airbags, which can explode with too much force, sending shrapnel flying inside the vehicle, have been responsible for nearly two dozen deaths and hundreds of injuries worldwide.

The recalls, which must be scheduled by 2019, have driven the Japanese company Takata into bankruptcy, both in Japan and the United States. Several automakers have been affected, including Toyota, Honda, Ford, Subaru, and GM, among others. Now, Honda is recalling 1.4 million vehicles, including those from its Acura line, as Fortune reports.

Honda is recalling 1.4 million Honda and Acura vehicles to have the defective front-passenger side airbags replaced.

In an unrelated recall, the company is also recalling 200,000 automobiles due to glitches in the software for the backup cameras.

The airbags are being recalled due to a defect, which can cause the airbags to deploy with too much force. This force can send shrapnel flying through the interiors of vehicles, leading to serious injury and 23 deaths worldwide. The degradation of the airbags is compounded in areas with warm, humid weather, which causes the deployment mechanism to overheat.

In total, more than 100 million vehicles have or will have scheduled recalls by 2019. The ongoing recall has affected several automakers, including both foreign and domestic brands. Honda advises that owners of vehicles affected by the recall can contact their local dealership for a free airbag replacement.

Have you been affected by the Takata airbag recall? We can help. Call today.

September 20, 2018 - GM Fighting To Avoid Replacing Takata Airbags, Puts Public At Risk:

The Takata airbag recall has been the largest automotive recall in history. The recall is centered around airbags which can explode with too much force, sending deadly shrapnel flying through vehicles. Almost two dozen deaths and hundreds of injuries worldwide are blamed on the defective airbags. The recall has affected most major automakers, including brands like Honda, Toyota, Ford, Chevy, Nissan, and many more. Although many of the automakers are trying to get the recalled vehicles fixed as fast as possible, some are looking for waivers so that they do not have to recall vehicles. GM is one such company, as WCPO reports.

3 million full-sized SUVs and trucks are on the recall list for having Takata airbags that may rupture with too much force. These include 2007-2011 model Chevy Silverado, Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, GMC Yukon, GMC Sierra, and the Cadillac Escalade.

However, owners of these vehicles are saying that they have been unable to get their airbags replaced.

One such owner is Steve Helton, of Loveland, Ohio. He purchased a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban for family road trips. Ever since he received a letter three years ago stating that his vehicle had Takata airbags on the recall list, he has refused to drive his family in the vehicle.

He also says that he has been unable to get the vehicle fixed because the dealers do not have the parts.

For its part, GM has petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for an exemption from any further airbag recalls. The company says that the airbags in their full-size SUVs are different than the ones in the recall. GM says that these airbags were made to exacting GM specifications and have not ruptured in laboratory or field testing.

However, the Center for Auto Safety is asking the NHTSA to deny GM the waiver. They do not believe that GM has proven that their airbags are distinctly different from the ones being recalled.

Have you been injured in an accident? We can help. Call today.

July 23, 2018 - Ford And Takata Reach Compensation Agreement For Vehicle Owners:

The Takata airbag scandal, which erupted completely in 2015, is the largest automobile recall in history. Several million autos, which were equipped with airbags from Takata that had faulty inflators, had to be recalled for replacement and repairs. The inflator, which utilizes a chemical that degrades over time, can explode with too much force, sending deadly shrapnel throughout the vehicle. While many automakers such as Toyota have already entered settlement agreements, some were holding out. One of those companies is the Ford Motor Company. However, as Fortune reports, the company has finally agreed to a settlement.

The settlement, which was filed in federal court in Miami last Monday, was reached to compensate Ford vehicle owners for losses attributed to the Takata airbags. The total of the settlement is $299.1 million dollars.

The settlement requires the company to reimburse customers for out-of-pocket expenses and provide loaner vehicles for those with vehicles affected by the recall. Ford must also ramp up efforts to locate the owners of vehicles who have not responded to the recall.

Ford is the latest automotive manufacturer to settle with customers over the defective airbags. Last year, Toyota, Subaru, Mazda, and BWN collectively settled for a combined $553 million-dollar agreement. Nissan entered a separate settlement agreement for $98 million.

General Motors, Fiat, Chrysler, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz are continuing to litigate the claims brought by their plaintiffs.

The Ford agreement covers some 6 million vehicles and is awaiting the required court approval.

Have you been affected by the Takata airbag recall? We can help. Call today.

June 21, 2018 - Part Problems Continue To Plague Takata Airbag Recall:

The Takata airbag recall has been the largest recall in automotive history. Millions of vehicles have been recalled for airbags that can explode with so much force that it sends deadly shrapnel flying, killing drivers and passengers. The airbags are responsible for nearly two dozen deaths worldwide and hundreds of injuries. Yet, fixes for the airbags are slow, with millions of vehicles affected still on the roads due to inability to contact owners or unresponsive owners. There is another problem affecting some cars and models – the parts to replace or repair the airbags just are not available. The Sun-Sentinel reports on the story.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has gotten involved in the recalls, sending urgent notices to car owners to get their vehicles airbags repaired or replaced.

Replacement parts are available for about 90% of all affected vehicles, but owners of those whose parts are unavailable are being frustrated by continued delays.

After getting the notice from the NHTSA urging her to repair her vehicle, Boynton Beach, Florida resident Charlotte Ruttenberg contacted her local Lincoln dealer about her Lincoln MKZ.

They informed her that the parts needed to repair her airbag were not going to be available for a few weeks.

Parkland resident Carolyn Bierman is experiencing the same problem. Some models have affected the passenger-side airbags in their vehicles. The parts to replace these airbags have been on backorder for some time now.

Lincoln Motor Company, which is a division of Ford, said that parts to repair the airbags on four of its models are not available. Dealers do want to let owners know that they do have loaner vehicles available to those affected by the recalls until the parts can be acquired.

Ford and Lincoln are not the only automakers having trouble with getting the parts to repair the vehicles. Toyota, Audi, Mercedes Benz, and Mercury all have vehicles which they are awaiting parts to fix the airbags.

Have you been injured in an accident? We can help. Call today.

June 6, 2018 - Malaysia Takes Action Against Owners With Bad Takata Airbags In Their Vehicles:

The Takata airbag scandal has been claiming lives for years now, and Honda just confirmed a 23rd global fatality. The vehicle was a Honda that crashed into a tree in the city of Kuala Lumpur. 15 of those deaths have occurred in the United States and a further 180 people have been injured by the defective airbags. The first death dates back to 2009. Recall efforts have been slow, with dealers running out of supplies and being unable to contact current owners of vehicles. Malaysia might have an incentive for those still driving with defective airbags: they plan to impose fine on car owners who still have recalled airbags in their vehicle, as PBS reports.

Honda issued a statement that said the vehicle involved in the fatal crash had been part of the 2015 recall.

Malaysia’s transport minister, Anthony Loke, said that Honda sent the owners of the vehicle 28 recall notices. One of those notices was sent out just 5 days before the crash. However, the family did not receive the notices because they failed to update their address when they moved.

Honda additionally reported that while 220,000 airbags in Malaysia had been replaced, that there were still 71,315 owners that have not responded to the recall.  

Loke plans to make it so that owners of vehicles that are under recall but have not fixed their vehicles will be unable to renew their road tax until their vehicles are fixed.

Just last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that several automakers would be issuing new recalls as the airbag scandal continues.

Have you been injured in an accident? We can help. Contact us today.

May 25, 2018 - Florida Senator Pushes For More Action On Replacing Faulty Takata Airbags:

The Takata airbag recalls continue with more vehicles expected to be recalled through 2019. However, there are still thousands of vehicles that have yet to be repaired and some members of Congress are calling on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to ramp up efforts and get with automakers to come up with a plan of action. One of these lawmakers is a Senator from Florida, who says that state leads the nation in death and injuries caused by the faulty airbags.

Senator Bill Nelson-D, from Florida, wants the NHTSA to require all automakers to have a plan for repairing faulty Takata airbags by June 30th. He wants the automakers to promise rental vehicles or alternate transportation as necessary to get owners who need repairs into the dealerships.

Nelson said that only 45% of Florida vehicles that need their airbags repaired or replaced have been fixed. Some 1.3 million vehicles still need to be repaired.

Those vehicles have been responsible for 3 deaths and 82 injuries in Florida alone, the highest in the nation. The Takata airbags deteriorate faster in hot, humid climates, of and the Florida climate is both.

The three deaths were in Honda vehicles along with 55 of the 83 injuries. Toyota vehicles accounted for another 13 injuries.

Texas has another 3 deaths and 37 injuries. California has seen 3 deaths as well and another 20 injuries. Georgia has not had any reported deaths where Takata airbags have been responsible but has reported 15 injuries linked to the faulty airbags.

Takata airbags can explode with too much force, sending deadly shrapnel flying into the driver and passenger areas of cars and small trucks.

Have you been injured in an accident by a Takata airbag? We can help. Call today.

May 18, 2018 - Hawaii Reaches Settlement With Takata:

Tens of thousands of cars with defective Takata airbags are still on the roadways and more recalls are expected through 2019. The airbags are responsible for 22 deaths worldwide, 20 of those in the United States and thousands of injuries. The airbags can explode with too much force, thanks to the ammonium nitrate detonator, sending shrapnel flying into drives and passengers with lethal results. Big Island Now reports on how Hawai’i has reached a multi-million-dollar settlement with Takata over the faulty airbags.

Hawai’i was the first state to file a lawsuit against Takata and its U.S. subsidiary, TK Holdings in 2016. The island state, along with the U.S. Virgin Islands, two other jurisdictions, and New Mexico will be receiving an approximately $7 million-dollar settlement. Hawai’i will receive a large share of that settlement, approximately $3 million.

Hawai’i filed the suit against both Takata and Honda for allegedly knowing advertising airbags they were aware were defective. The state followed up in May 2017 by filing lawsuits against three other automakers – Toyota, Nissan, and Ford Motor Company.

The lawsuits allege that the automakers were aware that the chemical used to detonate the airbags, ammonium nitrate, was unstable. They further alleged that the automakers used the chemical because it was cheaper. The lawsuit also contends that the companies were aware that the chemical degraded more quickly in hot and humid climates like Hawai’i.

While the settlement resolves the litigation against Takata, the state is continuing to pursue litigation against the four automakers.

Have you been injured in an accident? We can help. Call today.

May 16, 2018 - Automakers Struggle To Meet Deadlines For Takata Airbag Replacements:

The Takata airbag recall has been going on for years now, and it shows no sign of being finished. In fact, dozens of auto manufacturers have not met the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s deadline to have the airbags repaired and replaced. The airbags, which have been installed in millions of vehicles in the United States, can explode with too much force, sending shrapnel flying into driver and passenger areas, injuring and killing them. Automotive News reports on the story.

The NHTSA issued a December 2017 deadline for automakers to have faulty Takata airbags replaced. The automakers were told by the agency in 2015 to have the more than 20 million vehicles affected by the airbags repaired.

The deadline has come and gone with some 7 million vehicles still awaiting repairs. 42% of recalled vehicles still have not had the airbags replaced or repaired.

On May 3, a letter was sent to the automakers asking them to set meetings with the agency to discuss the pace of the repairs.

The NHTSA has received criticism from top Democratic lawmakers for allegedly not doing enough to speed up the repairs. A Senate hearing in March looked into the issue.

Of the 22 worldwide deaths linked to the defective airbags, 15 have been in the United States. 20 of those deaths were in Honda vehicles. The other two took place in Ford Ranger pickup trucks.

A trade group that represents the major automakers did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Have you been injured by a Takata airbag? We can help. Contact us today.

April 19, 2018 - More Takata Recalls Expected:

Already part of the largest automotive recall in history, the recall on Takata airbags are expected to grow even larger. Responsible for 15 deaths in the United States alone, the airbags can deploy with enough force to send shrapnel flying through the cars, injuring people and claiming lives. Takata filed for bankruptcy protection in Japan and the United States as mounting settlement and recall costs forced the company out of business. WRAL reports on the story, including that there are more vehicles expected to be added to the recall.

Nearly 50 million airbags have already been recalled, making the Takata airbag recall the largest in United States automotive history. It isn’t finished yet. Another 20 million more recalls are expected.

Takata airbags were installed in the cars, trucks, and SUVs manufactured by 19 different automakers.

More than 26 million vehicles are still awaiting replacement of their airbags. The airbags contain a chemical which can degrade, specifically in hot, humid climates. This puts vehicles in places like Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Puerto Rico, and parts of California specifically at risk.

David Friedman, who was the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration when the airbag recalls broke, believes that automakers need to do more to make owners aware of the deadly threat the airbags pose.

At the end of the day, however, it is up to the owners to take the responsibility of getting their vehicles to the dealers to get their airbags replaced.

Ford and Mazda have taken steps to warn owners to stop driving their 2006 model Ford Ranger and Mazda B-series pickup trucks and have them immediately towed to the dealership for airbag replacement.

Have you been injured in an accident? We can help. Contact us today.

April 9, 2018 - Did Automakers Know Of Takata Problems Before Consumers?:

The Takata airbag scandal began in about 2000, when documents indicate that the company became aware that some of the airbag inflators were not functioning properly. It wasn’t until 2008 that the recalls began, starting with Honda, the auto manufacturer who has been primarily affected by the 23 worldwide deaths and hundreds of injuries caused by the defective airbags. Now car owners are claiming in a class-action lawsuit that automakers were aware of the possibility of defective airbags long before the recalls began. Business Insider reports.

Class-action complaints filed in the U.S. District Court of Miami have been amended to allege that four automakers were aware of the defective airbags and misrepresented their vehicles as safe.

General Motors, Volkswagen, Fiat Chrysler, and Daimler auto manufacturers are those affected by the amended complaints. According to attorneys for the plaintiffs, internal documents indicate they were aware of the defective airbags and could have moved faster in issuing recalls.

The defective airbags have been linked to 23 deaths and hundreds of injuries worldwide. The airbags can explode with too much force, which sends shrapnel flying through the interior of vehicles.

The scandal has led the company Takata to file for bankruptcy and caused the recall of 125 million vehicles worldwide. 60 million of those vehicles are located in the United States.

As part of the same settlement in Florida, other automakers have settled economic loss cases totaling $1.2 billion. $605 million of those settlements belonged to Honda Motor Company.

A suit against Ford Motor Company is still pending.

Have you been injured in an accident? We can help. Call today.

March 30, 2018 - Automakers Resort To Door-To-Door Program To Implement Takata Recall:

The Takata airbag scandal seems never-ending. Recently, Ford Motor Company recalled additional pickup trucks in their 2006 Ranger line, warning owners not to drive the vehicles until the repairs are made. Still, automakers are experiencing difficulties getting owners to bring their vehicles in for the necessary airbag replacements. The scandal has been linked to at least 23 deaths worldwide with a majority of those occurring in the United States. Now, three automakers have initiated a door-to-door program in Houston to explain options to affected owners as Auto News reports.

A year ago, Honda Motors, an automaker with the most vehicles affected by the defective airbag recall, launched a small-scale door-to-door outreach to get in touch with owners of the affected vehicles. In August, the company expanded the program nationwide, employing a team of more than 500 people.

The company is offering the owners of affected vehicles a variety of options to get the airbag repaired. The owner may choose to have the vehicle repaired there in the driveway or parking lot by a qualified technician. They will also be offered a free loaner vehicle during repairs or towing to and from a nearby dealership.

Texas is ranked number two nationally for vehicles affected by the recall.

Both Ford and Mazda expanded their list of recalled vehicles. They have recently joined with Fiat Chrysler in the efforts to reach owners of affected vehicles in Houston.

Vehicles in warmer, more humid climates are more affected as the chemical used in the airbags degrades faster in this kind of climate.

The most recent death linked to the airbags occurred in Australia, bringing the worldwide death toll to 23. A further 230 injuries have been linked to the inflators.

Have you been injured in an accident? We can help. Contact us today.

March 20, 2018 - New Hearing On Speed Of Takata Airbag Recall:

Recently, Takata airbags came under further scrutiny when lawsuits were filed against automakers claiming they were aware of the issue and claimed that they misrepresented the safety of their vehicles. The recall efforts aren’t going so well either. Estimates indicate that about only half of the vehicles affected have been repaired. Now. Legislators are scheduling a hearing to come to an understanding on how the recall and repair efforts are going. Auto News reports on the hearing.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that only just over half of the estimated 40 million faulty airbags have been repaired. The airbags, which explode with deadly force, have been responsible for 22 deaths worldwide.

Ford Motor Company recently recalled about 33,000 older Ranger model pickup trucks after a second death related to the airbags. The other 20 deaths have been in Honda vehicles.

Now, U.S. Senators are going to convene a special hearing to learn about the status of recall efforts. Some lawmakers say that the recall process is taking too long.

Last June, Takata reported that it expected to recall 125 million vehicles worldwide. Approximately 60 million of those vehicles are located in the United States.

In 2017, the company pleaded guilty to a count of wire fraud and was ordered to pay a $1 billion settlement in a Justice Department investigation. Since then the company has declared bankruptcy and is selling its non-airbag interests to Key Safety Systems.

The hearing will, hopes Senator Bill Nelson, D-Fla, give the committee a real plan to “improve the still woeful recall completion rates.”

The hearing is tentatively scheduled for March 20 and will be held by the Senate Subcommittee that oversees the NHTSA.

Have you been injured in an accident? We can help. Call today.

March 15, 2018 - Automakers Sued For Takata Airbags By Owners:

First, it was the Takata company that was facing numerous lawsuits and fines regarding their faulty airbags. The airbags relied on a chemical called ammonium nitrate to trigger inflation. This chemical could deteriorate over time, causing a more powerful explosion upon deploying the airbags. These explosions sent debris flying through the interiors of affected vehicles, claiming at least 22 lives and causing hundreds of injuries. Now, a lawsuit contends that automakers were aware of the faulty airbags long before the recall. Auto News reports on the story.

Vehicle owners are citing internal documents in a lawsuit claiming that Volkswagen AG, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Daimler AG and General Motors were aware of the problems with Takata airbags. The suit claims that the automakers should have moved more quickly in regards to recalls.

The amended class-action lawsuits were filed in U.S. District Court in Miami and claim that the auto manufacturers knowingly misrepresented their vehicles as safe despite issues with the airbags.

A spokesperson for GM stated that there were no ruptures involving GM inflators. They plan to vigorously defend themselves in the lawsuit.

Daimler, too, said that the accusations regarding previous knowledge of the problem with the airbags were “unfounded.”

Volkswagen and Chrysler Fiat declined to comment.

Other automakers, such as Honda, have already settled litigation to the tune of a total of $1.2 billion. Just last September, Honda agreed to a $605 million-dollar settlement. Toyota, Subaru, BMW, Nissan, and Mazda have all also settled related lawsuits.

A similar lawsuit against Ford Motor Company is pending.

Have you been injured in an accident? We can help. Contact us today.

February 26, 2018 - Takata Agrees To Settlement With Several States:

Worldwide, the Takata airbag recall has affected some 129 million inflators installed in vehicles that later had to be recalled. 69 million of those vehicles were in the United States alone. The airbags use a chemical called ammonium nitrate to deploy during an accident. However, this chemical can deteriorate over time, especially when exposed to heat and humidity. The deterioration can cause the airbags to explode with too much force, sending debris into the cabin of the vehicle. Several deaths have been linked to the airbags. Now, the company has finally agreed to a settlement with several states as the New York Times reports.

Takata has reached a $650 million-dollar settlement with 44 states and Washington D.C. Due to the company’s financial problems and their bankruptcy, they will only pay a tiny fraction of that settlement.

With the exception of South Carolina, who led the states in the lawsuit, and will collect slightly over $139,000, the states have agreed not to accept money. They reached this agreement so that victims of the faulty airbags can collect more money.

More than 180 people have been injured and 2 people have died worldwide due to the faulty airbags.

Takata went into bankruptcy amid lawsuits and recall costs for the millions of vehicles that were affected worldwide.

The company entered a deal with the U.S. Justice Department to pay $125 million for victim restitution. They also have to pay automakers $850 million to cover their recall and litigation costs.

Have you been injured due to a Takata airbag? We can help. Contact us.

February 13, 2018 - New Death Prompts New Ford Recalls:

The Takata airbag scandal has already claimed 22 lives globally with the majority of those deaths concentrated in the United States. The most recent death came after both Honda and Ford decided to expand their recalls to additional vehicles. The faulty airbags include multiple manufacturers, including Toyota, Honda, Ford, BMW, General Motors, Jaguar, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, and Mazda, among others. Now Ford is urging the owners of their Ranger brand of trucks that have been affected to stop driving as the New York Daily News reports.

Ford is urging the owners of some 30,000 affected Ranger trucks to stop driving the vehicles immediately and contact their dealership. The recommendation comes due to an increased risk that a Takata airbag may rupture in an accident, seriously injuring the occupants of the vehicle.

The recall more specifically encompasses 33,428 2006 model year Ranger pick up trucks that were manufactured at the Twin Cities Assembly Plant. The trucks were manufactured between August and December of 2005.

Some 40 million vehicles in the United States alone are affected by the recall to replace the Takata airbags.

Ford will come and pick up the affected vehicles and leave a loaner car if need be. Dealers already have the replacement parts needed to fix the affected vehicles.

The fix will provide a permanent repair to the vehicles. There will be no cost to the customer.

Have you been injured in an accident? We can help. Contact us.

January 11, 2018 - Another Set of Cars Added to the Takata Recall:

The Takata airbag scandal has been ongoing since at least 2004, and possibly as far back as 1999 when the company began manufacturing airbags with ammonium nitrate. It wasn’t until 2008, however, that Honda began issuing the first recalls to replace the defective bags. In May of 2015, Takata agreed to recall as many as 32 million airbags with the faulty inflators. Included automakers are Honda, Toyota, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, Subaru, and many others. By 2016, as many as ten deaths were linked to the airbags. Now, Honda and Toyota are recalling another million vehicles to fix faulty airbags. Time Magazine reports.

The recalls come after the airbag manufacturer, Takata, announced that a further 3.3 million inflators are defective. The recalls only serve to further inflate the largest series of recalls in United States history.

So far, 19 automakers have had to recall some 69 million inflators in 42 million vehicles.

Toyota is recalling an additional 601,000 vehicles and owners will be notified beginning by March.

The recall covers the following:

• 2009, 2010, and 2013 Toyota Matrix, Corolla, Scion xB, Lexus IS 250 and 350 models.
• 2010 and 2013 Toyota 4-Runner, Lexus IS 250C and 350C, and Lexus GX 460 models.
• 2009 and 2010 Toyota Yaris and Lexus ES 350 models.
• 2013 Toyota Sienna models.

Honda is recalling an additional 465,000 vehicles along with 960 Gold Wing Motorcycles.

Their recall covers the following:

• 2009-2012 Acura RL and Honda Accord models.
• 2009-2013 Acura TSX, Honda Fit, Honda Ridgeline, and Honda Pilot models.
• 2009-2011 Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, and Honda Element models.
• 2010-2013 Honda Crosstour, Honda Insight, and Acura ZDX models.
• 2011-2013 Acura TSX models.
• 2013 Honda FCX Clarity and Honda Fit EV models.

January 3, 2018 - Another Death in the Takata Airbag Case, Count Up To 20:

A long list of recalled vehicles have the faulty Takata airbags in them, bags which use ammonium nitrate to cause the explosion to inflate the bag in an accident. The issue is that the chemical deteriorates over time, especially when exposed to heat and humidity. This causes an explosion that sends shrapnel into the passenger cabin, which has led to many deaths worldwide. The number of deaths has now ticked up to 20, the LA Times Reports.

Honda came forward and said that another person has died as a result of the faulty Takata airbags.

Honda said that the vehicle was a 2004 Honda Civic crashed back on July 10 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Officials from Honda and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration inspected the vehicle and confirmed it had, indeed, contained a Takata airbag. Also confirmed was that the resulting explosion deploying the airbag was the cause of death.

The name of the victim had not been released.

In a statement, Honda said that the airbag in the vehicle had been salvaged from a 2002 Honda Civic.

Federal law allows for airbag assemblies and other parts that may be under recall to be pulled out of wrecked cars and sold by junkyards. The auto shops buying the recalled parts may not even be aware of the danger.

The airbags faulty deployment set off the largest automotive recall in United States History, involving up to 69 million inflators and 42 million vehicles. Honda was Takata’s largest customer.

Takata filed for bankruptcy protection in both Japan and the United States back in June.

Have you been injured as the result of a faulty Takata airbag? You may have a case. Let the attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call today.

December 15, 2017 - Only Half of Takata Airbags Replaced:

The Takata air bag recall is going very slowly, with fewer than half of all vehicles needing repairs having actually been fixed. The airbags, which are responsible for at least 13 deaths and 180 injuries in the United States alone, deploy with a force great enough to send parts flying through the vehicle. Millions of vehicles have been affected, with millions more expected to be affected, as the Detroit News reports.

According to the NHTSA, only 19.6 million have been repaired out of 34 million, and the problem is expected to grow. Another 20 million newer vehicles are expected to be added to the recall lists. The problem is that the older the vehicle, the greater the risk of injury if the airbag deploys.

Some automakers are utilizing social media to reach out to consumers who have yet to have their vehicles repaired. Honda, who have been disproportionately represented in the recalls, has repaired 11.4 million of 17.7 million inflators. The automaker began using Facebook to track owners and send warnings.

The company says that they have made 150 million attempts to reach the owners of recalled vehicles.

Have you been injured in an accident by a defective Takata airbag? You may have a case. Let the attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call today for a consultation.

November 6, 2017 - Takata is Finalizing Sale of itself to Key Safety Systems:

Japanese airbag supplier Takata Corporation has been in dire straits ever since their airbags were discovered to be faulty. The airbags will inflate with such explosive force that shrapnel is launched through the interior of the car. Several people have been killed as a result of the faulty airbags and several auto manufacturers have been forced to recall vehicles to replace the airbags. The company declared bankruptcy amid class action lawsuits, yet they may still stay in business. Auto News reports on Key Safety Systems’ attempt to acquire Takata.

In a court filing late Friday, Key Safety Systems and Takata said that the two companies had come to an agreement to close the deal on the sale. In addition to the filing of the agreement, Takata also filed a final reorganization plan with the court.

Takata’s customers have signed off on the acquisition deal. All that remains is Bankruptcy Court approval.

A tentative deal was reached back in June. The merging of the two companies will make Key Safety Systems, who are headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, one of the largest players in the auto safety business. The deal is worth an estimated $1.588 billion, according to court filings.

According to the filing, Bankruptcy court approval is expected by December and the deal is expected to be finalized by February.

Have you or a loved one been injured as the result of a faulty Takata airbag? You may have a case. Let the experienced attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates fight for you. Call us today.

October 13, 2017 - Ford Seeks to Dismiss New Takata Cases in Florida:

The Takata airbag scandal affected numerous car manufacturers worldwide. So far, six automakers who used the faulty airbags have agreed to settle the multidistrict lawsuits out of court. However, Ford Motor Company is still holding out, intending on seeing their day in court. Law 360 reports that the company is seeking the dismissal of new claims, citing that the new claims, filed in Florida, have no connection to Ford’s conduct within the state.

On Monday, representatives of the Ford Motor Company pushed back against new claims that have been filed in multidistrict litigation over the Takata airbags, which were defective. Their argument is that the new filings reach beyond the court’s order by adding an additional 36 plaintiffs and allege 24 new causes of action to the case.

Ford is the sole remaining defendant in the case where consumers allege that the faulty Takata airbags can misfire, sending deadly shrapnel flying through the vehicle. The airbags have been linked to 11 deaths in the United States alone. Other manufacturers, most recently Honda, have agreed to settle claims out of court.

In September, Honda agreed to pay $605 million in a deal to exit the MDL, which would speed the removal of the faulty airbags that still remain in Honda vehicles. Toyota, Subaru, Mazda, and BMW also exited the MDL, agreeing to pay a combined $553.6 million back in May. Nissan settled for $98 million in August.

Takata has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and has agreed to pay $1 billion in fines and restitution. In June, Takata filed for Bankruptcy in both Japan and in Delaware.

Have you been affected by a faulty Takata airbag? Let the attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today.

September 4, 2017 - Honda Sets Aside Hundreds of Millions for Takata Settlements:

When it comes to Takata airbag claims, it is not just the manufacturer of the airbags who is on the hook for claims relating to the faulty components. Auto manufacturers are having to set aside millions to settle potential claims as well. Engaget reports that Honda is setting aside $605 million to settle claims related to the potentially deadly airbags.

While several auto manufacturers have felt the impact of the Takata airbag scandal, it is Honda that has possibly felt the most impact. Now the Japanese auto manufacturer has set aside $605 million dollars in settlement funds.

The funds will go towards paying claims made by auto owners that are related to the deadly airbags. These claims are being set aside to pay for the out-of-pocket costs and lost wages customers might incur from having to bring their vehicles in to be serviced to have the airbags replaced.

Part of the amount will also go to an outreach program that is designed to speed up the space of the recall as well as the replacement of the faulty airbags.

Though the amount has yet to be approved by the court, if it is approved, it will be the largest among all Takata-related settlements.

Toyota, Subaru, and Mazda agreed to a settlement of $553 million total combined. Nissan settled a class-action lawsuit for $97.7 million.

Honda was one of Takata’s biggest customers. Of the 18 worldwide deaths linked to the airbags, 17 were in Honda vehicles.

Have you been injured by a Takata airbag during an accident? Let the experienced attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today.

August 22, 2017 - Another Airbag Death Reported in Florida:

The much beleaguered Takata Corporation is not finding things getting easier for them. Embroiled in lawsuits that have forced the company to declare bankruptcy, there might be one more wrongful death lawsuit coming. The LA Times reports on another death blamed on the faulty airbag inflators.

The crash occurred on July 9th in Holiday, Florida, which is near Tampa. According to Honda, local authorities are still investigating the crash and have not yet announced a cause of death.

The driver, who has not been identified, was driving a 2002 Honda Accord when the crash occurred. The driver’s side air bag inflator ruptured.

If the airbag is determined to be the cause of death, it would be the 19th death worldwide and the 13th in the United States that has been blamed on the faulty inflators.

The inflators made by Takata can deploy with too much force, sending shrapnel into the passenger cabin. The defective inflators are part of the biggest automotive recall in United States history. So far, 42 million vehicles and 69 million inflators have been involved in the recall. Worldwide, more than 100 million automobiles have been recalled.

In a statement released by Honda, they say that they mailed 21 notices to the owners of the Accord involved in the fatal Holiday, Florida crash going back to 2011. 10 of those notices were sent to the current registered owner of the vehicle. Although Honda says it has the parts to repair the vehicle, the recall repair had not been made according to company records.

Honda urges owners of recalled vehicles to bring the car in for repairs as soon as possible. Older vehicles, particularly those from model years 2001 to 2003 are at greater risk of killing people.

Have you been injured by a Takata airbag inflator? Let the attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today.

July 10, 2017 - Another Takata Death Reported, Now Up To 17:

Another death from a Takata airbag has been made public, but this one is unusual. This explosion didn’t happen in a crash. It happened during repair job in Florida. The Los Angeles Times has the story.

According to the report, the man died in June of 2016. He was working in an 2001 Honda Accord with a hammer when the airbag went off. The ignition was on, which would have activated the airbag. It is unknown what caused the airbag to go off, but police found metal shrapnel from the exploded inflator in the man’s body.

Honda was just made aware of the death. This makes the 17th death worldwide from the inflators. Takata, the maker of the airbags, is currently undergoing bankruptcy proceedings in order to cover the costs of the recall. There are still many airbags out there that are faulty and need replacement.

Takata is certainly paying for its crimes, and they should. An important safety device meant to protect lives is instead robbing them. If you’ve been injured by a Takata airbag, you need to get compensation.

Call John Foy & Associates today if you believe you’ve been injured by a Takata airbag. If you have ever had an airbag replaced or if you own one of the vehicles in the recall you may be at risk. Don’t wait. Call today for a free consultation if you’ve been injured. If you haven’t been injured, get your airbag replaced with one that’s not under the recall as soon as possible.

June 20, 2017 - Takata Bankruptcy Rumor Causes Stock To Plummet:

Takata has taken a severe beating in the market in response to the airbag scandal. Things have gotten so bad that there are strong rumors of possible bankruptcy by the company. CNN Money has a story on the issue.

Due the rumors, Takata stock dropped 17% yesterday. The stock is now worth an eighth of what it was back in 2014. Takata has been trying to figure out how to stay in business and supply all of the manufacturers with replacement parts to avoid the deadly shrapnel issue in some Takata inflators.

The rumors suggest that Takata will file for bankruptcy in Japan and the US, then sell off the business to a competitor who will take over supplying parts for the recalled airbags. However, nothing has been decided yet by the company. They are considering all options.

Financial analysts have warned for some time now that the scope of Takata’s airbag recall could drive the company into bankruptcy. Completing the recall could take until 2023 by some estimates.

If you own a vehicle in the recall list, you need to get it replaced as soon as possible. If you get a replacement airbag, make sure that it is not under the recall as well. And if you’ve been injured by an exploding airbag, you need to contact John Foy & Associates today to see if you might be due compensation. Call today.

May 18, 2017 - Several Automakers Settle Class Action Lawsuit:

Takata wasn’t the only one that was subjected to lawsuits over their airbag issue. Automakers were also accused of wrongdoing. Settlements are mounting. A big one may have just happened with American automakers according to the New York Times.

Toyota, BMW, Subaru, and Mazda have agreed to pay $553 million in a class action lawsuit brought against them for the faulty airbag inflators. The court has yet to agree to take the offer, but signs seem favorable. The money in the suit will go toward paying affected members in the class as well as promote educational efforts about the bad inflators. Despite the danger, many inflators haven’t been replaced.

Honda, Ford, and Nissan are also embroiled in similar lawsuits and have yet to settle.

If you have a vehicle under the recall, we urge you to get the airbag inflator replaced as soon as possible. The igniters can explode incorrectly and send shrapnel throughout the vehicle. Several deaths and many injuries have been reported worldwide from the flaw.

If you’ve been injured by one, you may still be able to get compensation. Contact John Foy & Associates today. We have class action lawyers ready to help you join these lawsuits and get you the compensation you deserve. Call immediately while there is still time.

May 16, 2017 - Malaysian Man Sues in US for Wife’s Airbag Death:

More lawsuits keep coming as more people get hurt by Takata airbag inflators. U.S. News and World Report reported on a case from Malaysia that ended up in U.S. court.

A woman in Malaysia was killed by her Takata airbag after she went off the road and hit a pole. Investigators found shrapnel from the inflator at the base of her skull. She was killed instantly in the crash from the injury.

Now her husband has filed suit in Michigan to get justice for what has happened. He is suing Honda and Takata for not warning people about the problem. He decided to sue after Takata pled guilty to fraud in February.

He did receive a settlement offer but refused to take it because it was conditioned on him not speaking publicly about the issue. He wants the story to spread more so that other people with these dangerous inflators can get them replaced. The couple didn’t know they had a defective vehicle and weren’t notified by Honda of a recall.

This is just one of sixteen known deaths from Takata airbags. 11 have happened in the U.S. Hundreds more have been injured and more than 100 million inflators are under the recall. If you have a faulty inflator and have been injured by it, contact John Foy & Associates today for a free consultation.

April 24, 2017 - Salvaged Airbag Responsible For Injury According To Honda:

We just recently wrote about the dangers of salvaged unrecalled airbags making their way into other vehicles. Now Honda has come forward to say that one of these may have been responsible injuries that happened last month in a crash.

In early March, a driver was injured by their airbag after a crash in Las Vegas according to News 18. Later inspection showed that the airbag inflator was a salvaged one, not an original part. Honda has been trying to find faulty airbag inflators in junkyards and buy them before they make their way into vehicles.

The driver suffered a punctured trachea from the exploding igniter after a rear-end crash. More than 16 deaths and 150 injures have been reported in the US due to the faulty igniters. Takata and other automakers have had to settle for billions of dollars to rectify the problem.

If you are getting an airbag replacement, you must ensure that your dealer or mechanic doesn’t source it from a recalled vehicle. Ask them to do their due diligence.

Have you been injured by airbag shrapnel from a faulty Takata airbag? This is a known manufacturing defect and you can get compensation if you’ve been injured or have had a loved one killed by them. We urge you to call John Foy & Associates today for a free consultation if you believe you’ve been injured by your airbag. Call today.

April 21, 2017 - Be Wary of Used Airbag Inflators:

Takata continues to settle with people who have their faulty airbag inflators, but there is one case where they may get off the hook. The used car and junkyard industries can hide unrecalled airbag inflators that can sneak their way into other cars. KETV Omaha explains more about the situation.

Vehicles that end up on the used market and in salvage yards may still have unrecalled airbag inflators. The US government takes a hands-off approach to these markets. But what this means is that an unrecalled airbag inflator could get taken out of a vehicle and placed into another one as part of an aftermarket repair or to resell. There are no laws against this practice.

If you need to get your airbag replaced after an accident, you should question your mechanic about the source of the inflator. 16 people have died so far from shrapnel wounds and many more have been injured by the faulty inflators. The trouble is that Takata was responsible for so many airbags in vehicles that it can be hard to determine whether or not you have a good one or a bad one.

Have you been injured in an airbag accident? Do you believe it was caused by a Takata airbag? You can get compensation. Contact John Foy & Associates today for a free consultation.

January 25, 2017 - New Mexico Sues Takata and Automakers:

It will be a wonder if Takata will avoid bankruptcy given all of the lawsuits coming against them for their faulty airbags. Now New Mexico has joined with its own lawsuit, suing 15 carmakers and Takata for the dangerous devices.

New Mexico claims that the automakers and Takata knew about the defects and continued selling the devices anyway. This violates the state’s unfair trade practices act. Considering the airbag defect was first detected in the late 1990s, the state believes that Takata and the automakers had plenty of time to fix the problem, but chose not to.

The airbag ignitors break down in humid conditions, causing the airbags to break apart and send metal shrapnel through the vehicle. Over a dozen have died and hundreds have been injured from the bags.

The state is seeking $5000 for each defective airbag that entered the state and $5,000 for each day the manufacturers hid the defect or misrepresented the safety of the vehicles. Yes, for each day! New Mexico will have plenty of evidence on their side considering all the attention placed on the scandal. Here’s hoping Takata will have enough assets to cover all of the claims.

Do you believe you’ve been injured by a Takata airbag? You can get compensation for your injuries. Contact John Foy & Associates today for a free consultation. One of our class-action lawyers will speak with you about your experience and tell you your options. Call today.

January 13, 2017 - Toyota Expands Takata Recall AGAIN!:

The Takata airbag recall keeps getting larger and larger. Nearly every manufacturer has used Takata airbags at some point. The faulty igniters in the bags can cause the canisters to rupture and send shrapnel through the driver in humid conditions. If you have a vehicle on the recall list, you need to get it fixed as soon as possible.

The latest cars to be added from Toyota are:

• 2008-2009 Scion xB
• 2012 Corolla and Corolla Matrix
• 2012 Yaris
• 2012 4Runners and Siennas
• 2006-2012 Lexus

In all, this adds over another half million vehicles to this recall. So far the igniters have killed 16 people worldwide and injured around 180. The current confirmed list of recalled makes and models can be found at the NHTSA’s website at https://www.safercar.gov/rs/takata/takatalist.html. However, this list will need updating with this latest release of recalled vehicles.

The Takata Airbag recall is one of the largest recalls in history. It is very likely that you own a vehicle affected by the recall, or that you know someone who is. Only three manufacturers in the world make airbags and Takata is the largest of them. You need to take action to get your airbag replaced, especially if you live in a humid area.

Do you believe you’ve been injured by an airbag? Are you unable to get replacement parts for your vehicle and can’t sell it? You may be able to join a class-action lawsuit against Takata for the faulty airbags. Contact John Foy & Associates today for a free consultation about your situation.

December 30, 2016 - Takata Nears Settlement with the US Government:

The embattled company Takata is facing fire from all sides, but soon the company may reach a settlement with the federal government. This doesn’t absolve them from civil penalties from customers, but it may get the feds off their back.

The recall is the largest one in automotive history, and the fines paid by Takata will match. Takata may pay fines of up to a billion dollars to the government for their actions, which include hiding study information from regulators and manipulating test results to sell more airbags to their clients.

A major coup would be for the company to plead guilty to the charges, but this isn’t a common result. Other major manufacturers have managed to make deals that would defer guilty pleas in exchange for huge fines paid in a certain amount of time. If Takata does plead guilty, that opens the floodgates for many more claims and true justice for the millions of people at risk and the few who have died from faulty igniters in the bags.

A final decision is expected to come down within a few weeks. For more information on the potential settlement, read the full story at the LA Times.

Is your car part of the Takata recall? Replace your bag as soon as you can. But if you are injured by a Takata airbag, you can join the class action lawsuit against them. Contact John Foy & Associates for a free consultation about the matter.

December 20, 2016 - Dealers Selling Used Cars That Still Have Bad Airbags:

Anyone paying attention to the airbag recall knows cars with the inflators are safe. But did you know that it’s still legal for a dealer to sell you a car with a known faulty airbag? It’s true. It’s because regulators think that it’s safer to drive with a faulty airbag than to drive a car without one at all. However, there are some exceptions.

Certain cars are considered to have a higher failure rate than average and are not to be driven at all. They are all Hondas. These include:

• 2003 Acura 3.2CL
• 2002–2003 Acura 3.2TL
• 2001–2002 Honda Accord
• 2001–2002 Honda Civic
• 2002 Honda CR-V
• 2002 Honda Odyssey
• 2003 Honda Pilot

Unless they have had their airbags replaced they should not be driven until taken to a dealer for repairs. Yet that hasn’t stopped some dealerships from selling these vehicles to customers. Some dealers are so incensed at the practice that they’ve filed lawsuits and tried to persuade legislators to ban the practice. And even though other cars affected by the recall aren’t as dangerous, regulators aren’t pleased that sales are happening of the recalled vehicles on used car lots.

If you are in the market for a used car, you should familiarize yourself with the list of recalled vehicles in the Takata airbag scandal before making a purchase. If the car is on the list, ask for proof of repairs before buying. Just because it’s from a dealer doesn’t mean that it’s been repaired.

If you have been injured by a Takata airbag and you live in Georgia, contact John Foy & Associates for a free consultation.

December 15, 2016 - Expensive Supercars Added to Takata Recall List:

The Takata airbag recall is well-known now, but it seems like new cars keep getting added to the list all the time. A new round has been added to the recall list but from a surprising source. Expensive supercars have now been found to have the dangerous airbag inflators.

Not just older supercars either. Car models from this year and even next year have shipped with the bad inflators! Why? Turns out that it’s not easy to replace these inflators with something else. Because so few supercars are sold, the window to sell is small before something new comes along. This would be no problem if the part was reliable, but Takata inflators have already killed and injured many people.

The new affected models include the:

• 2012 Lexus LFA
• 2017 Audi R8
• 2016-2017 McLaren 570S
• 2016-2017 Ferrari’s (yes, all of them!)
• 2012-2016 Tesla Model S
• McLaren P1 hypercar

This could lead quite a few people with means wanting answers for why a faulty inflator went into their expensive purchase. They deserve those answers. For a full list of cars that have been affected by the Takata airbag recall, take a look at this page from the NHTSA that lists all makes, models, and years affected by the inflators.

Do you believe that you were injured by a faulty inflator? Did a loved one receive mysterious shrapnel injuries after a crash? Contact John Foy & Associates immediately for a consultation. We can help you get compensation in this huge case.

October 21, 2016 - Another Takata Airbag Death in the US:

Things keep getting worse in the Takata airbag scandal. Yet another death has been attributed to the faulty airbags.

A 50-year-old woman was killed last month in an auto accident in California. She has been confirmed as the 11th victim of the Takata airbag inflators, which have been recalled.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed the woman’s death on Thursday. Her name was not released.

It is also believed that as many as 5 people in Malaysia have been killed by the airbags, bringing the worldwide total of fatalities to 16.

The NHTSA confirmed that the woman’s death occurred on September 30th in Riverside County, California. Honda confirmed that at the time of the accident, she was driving a 2001 Honda Civic.

Takata airbags explode with too much force, which can send debris spewing into the passenger compartment. This debris has caused injury and death worldwide.

The problem with the airbags has launched the largest recall in U.S. automotive history, involving 69 million inflators in the U.S. alone. Worldwide, more than 100 million inflators have been recalled.

Honda released at statement saying that they had sent more than 20 recall notices to the registered owners. Records indicate that the vehicle was never repaired.

Back in June, the NHTSA urged more than 313,000 owners of older-model Hondas and Acuras to quit driving the vehicles and get them repaired.

If you have been injured by a Takata airbag malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the “Strong Arm” attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates. We may be able to help you. Call us today.

July 21, 2016 - Takata Settles Lawsuit to Avoid Public Testimony:

Takata airbags are at the center of a world-wide vehicle recall.  The airbags, which can spew shrapnel into the cabin of a car when they explode, have caused several injuries and a few fatalities.  The company has begun to settle lawsuits filed by the families of those who have been injured or have died as a result of the defective product.

On Friday, July 15, Takata settled a lawsuit brought by the family of a victim of one of their malfunctioning airbags.  The lawsuit had been closely watched by those in the industry.  

The announcement of the settlement came just before a hearing in which a Jacksonville, Florida judge could have ordered the CEO, Shigehisa Takada, to testify.

The company has settled many previous lawsuits and is keen to keep Takada, the grandson of the founder, from testifying in court.

The victim in the crash, Patricia Mincey, was paralyzed from the neck down after the Takata airbag in her 2001 inflated during a crash.  Ms. Mincey alleged in her lawsuit, filed a year later, that Takata had knowingly designed and manufactured the defective airbags.  She recently passed in April due to complications from her paralysis.

Neither side would disclose the amount of the settlement.  

In the case of Ms. Mincey, the airbag did not rupture and send shrapnel flying.  It instead deployed forcefully, resulting in Ms. Mincey’s spine being crushed.  For this reason, Takata had been delaying in settling the lawsuit.  

If you or a family member has received injuries from a defective Takata airbag, you may be entitled to compensation.  Contact the law offices of John Foy & Associates.  Let the “Strong Arm” attorneys fight to get you the compensation you deserve.  Contact us today.

July 15, 2016 - Repair Rates Low on Airbags Thanks to Parts Shortage:

Vehicles with Takata airbags are at the center of a worldwide recall.  The airbags can send debris flying when the explosion used to inflate them detonates.  Already there have been several deaths and injuries linked to the defective devices.

Saab is just one of the auto manufacturers caught up in the wide-scale Takata airbag recall.  More than 60 million vehicles in the U.S. alone have been affected by the recall.  

The airbags use ammonium-nitrate drivers to inflate the bags in a collision.  The inflators can explode on impact, spraying the interior of the car with shrapnel, sometimes to fatal effect.  

The frustration at the recall – the largest in U.S. automotive history – is felt by all dealers and manufacturers.  Almost every major automaker has at least one model built of the past decade that is being affected by the recall.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website, ten people have been killed and more than 100 injured in crashes with vehicles having the faulty devices.  

However, tens of thousands of car owners are feeling the frustration, and the fear, of having to drive cars with the defective airbags.  Several owners are being told that the replacement parts to repair their vehicles will not be available until December 2019.

Takata is sitting on the edge of bankruptcy as it continues to try and manufacture replacement parts and continue to supply automakers with new and better airbags for their vehicles.  

While about 20 companies produce automobile airbags globally, few have the production capacity to produce the millions of replacement airbags needed while still manufacturing new airbags.  

The NTHSA’s website reports that 63 million airbags are a part of the recalls, but only about 8.8 million, roughly 13.8% have been repaired.

If you have been injured due to an accident where a faulty Takata airbag was deployed, you may be entitled to compensation.  Contact the “Strong Arm” attorneys at John Foy & Associates.  Our attorneys will help you get the compensation you deserve.  Contact us today.

June 30, 2016 - New Takata Airbag Death in Malaysia:

Takata airbags, which have been at the center of a worldwide recall, have been named responsible for another death.  The death of a Malaysian woman is being blamed on the defective airbags, which can cause debris to fly when they explode.  

More than 60 million vehicles worldwide have been recalled, including the 2005 Honda the Malaysian woman was driving at the time of her death.  Most of the fatalities have taken place in the United States, but this is the fourth fatality in Malaysia.

A spokesman for Honda Motor said that three notices regarding the recall had been sent to the owner of the car, but it had not been brought in for the necessary maintenance to change out the airbag.  

Malaysian authorities are still investigating and have not yet released a cause of death.  The woman in the accident suffered chest injuries and the airbag had been deployed in the accident that caused her death.  

The 2005 Honda City that the woman was driving was part of a worldwide recall to replace the inflators in both the driver and the passenger side airbags.  It had been recalled in 2015.

Malaysian authorities reported that two other automobile fatalities that occurred earlier this year were blamed on the Takata airbags.  A previous accident that occurred in 2014 was also to blame.

Malaysian citizens can check Honda’s website to see if their vehicle in involved in the recall.  People in the United States can check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s database of recalls on their auto safety website.

If you have been injured in an accident involving Takata airbags, you may be entitled to compensation.  Contact the “Strong Arm” attorneys at John Foy & Associates.  We may be able to help you get the compensation you deserve.  Contact us today.

May 19, 2016 - Honda Expands Takata Airbag Recall Even More:

In news from Tokyo, Japan, Honda plans to add 21 million more vehicles to its recall to fix defective airbags.

The auto manufacturer made the announcement after American regulators more than doubled the scope of the initial airbag recall. The agency identified another 35 million to 40 million vehicles that required fixing. Honda is one of Takata’s largest customers. They are recalling 51 million vehicles.

In recent weeks, the American recall was expanded under orders from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Honda did not comment on exactly how many vehicles are being recalled in the United States or other countries.

Airbag inflators manufactured by Takata explode with so much force that shrapnel is dispersed into the car. This fault has been blamed for more than eleven deaths worldwide and 100 injuries.

Due to the recall, Honda reported a rare quarterly loss due to expenses that stem from the recall. The manufacturer went on to say that it has set aside a total of $2.45 billion to cover costs related to the recall.

Automakers are hoping to recover costs from Takata, but their ability to do so remains unclear. Takata’s ability to pay is currently in doubt. Takata has recently announced plans for a major restructuring.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury due to a Takata airbag, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the “Strong Arm” attorneys at John Foy & Associates. We will help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today.

May 6, 2016 - Another Death from Takata Airbags:

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.

May 5, 2016 - 35 Million More Airbags Recalled by Takata:

The one of the largest recalls in U.S. auto making history is just about to get bigger – more than doubling the number of vehicles currently affected.

Takata Corp. Announced that it is preparing to recall at least another 35 million air bag inflators that run the risk of rupture during inflation. U.S. government regulators have deemed the air bag inflators installed in vehicles to be a safety risk after a number of injuries and deaths linked to the inflators that the company manufactures.

Federal regulators may release more information about the expanded recall in the next week. Takata has been in discussions with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration earlier this week and the details in connection to the expanded recall have not been released.

So far it has not been released just how many vehicles will be a part of the expanded recall, however, some closest to the manner estimate that it will be in the tens of millions. So far the recall has been of 28.8 million inflators that affect some 24 million vehicles manufactured by more than a dozen automakers.

The bad air bag inflators can cause airbags installed in vehicles to rupture and spray shrapnel. So far the number of deaths connected to the defective inflators is 11, with dozens more people who have been injured.

The air-bag inflators manufactured by Takata use the chemical ammonium nitrate as a propellant, which needs to be dry to function properly. The recalled inflators do not have a drying agent to prevent moisture buildup.

Takata Corp. Was fined some $70 million for having failed to alert the U.S. government about the defective air bags in a timely manner. Additionally, U.S. regulators have ordered Takata to stop using ammonium nitrate in their inflators. That amount could likely grow to some $200 million for additional safety violations.

Officials with Takata Corp. have said that the company intends to fully cooperate with U.S. government officials on the matter.

Because of how Takata airbags were manufactured, there have been a number of injuries and even deaths due to the bags exploding, sending shrapnel into the drivers that were meant to be protected by the devices. There are  a number of lawsuits against Takata and these automakers. So far, there have been 24 million vehicles recalled that were fitted with potentially dangerous Takata air bags, and as expected, that number is very likely going to go up soon.

If you or a loved one has been injured or tragically been killed in an accident involving a potentially fatal airbag manufactured by Takata, you have our deepest condolences for your loss. We want to help. You and your family may be entitled to compensation for any injuries or even wrongful death after such an accident. Contact the Takata Airbag Recall Attorney in Atlanta, John Foy & Associates. You may reach us at 404) 400-4000 to schedule a free consultation and legal analysis or contact us here on our website. Contact the law offices with the Strong Arm. Contact us today.

April 17, 2016 - NHTSA Laments Airbag Replacement Rates:

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, just a small fraction of the estimated 29 million defective Takata airbags have been completed.

The NHTSA indicated on March 11th that automakers had replaced more than 7.5 million defective Takata inflators, which have the potential to rupture and send metal and plastic shards into vehicle occupants and seriously injure or even kill them. So far, 11 deaths have been blamed and more than 100 others have alleged to have been seriously injured by Takata airbags in the U.S.

The federal agency has mandated that all auto manufacturers that have been affected by the Takata airbag recalls must have a sufficient supply of replacement parts on hand this year and must have completed most of the repairs on the estimated 29 million vehicles that have been affected by the end of 2017.

The NHTSA said on Thursday that it has reviewed inflator replacement plans from all the automakers and is working “to increase the manufacturers’ recall completion rates.”

Millions of vehicles made by nearly every auto maker have been recalled because they were fitted with potentially dangerous Takata air bags. Investigators have found that the ammonium nitrate inflators in these air bags are potentially dangerous to occupants in vehicles with airbags that were involved in accidents. Some people have been seriously injured while others have sadly lost their lives because of the defect.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or tragically lost their life due to a malfunctioning airbag, call the law offices of John Foy and Associates today. John Foy is the airbag recall lawyer with the “Strong Arm” who will be there to fight on your side. Contact us today at (404) 400-4000 in order to schedule a free consultation and legal analysis.

April 10, 2016 - Airbag Recall Costs May Total $24 Billion:

When all is said and done with regard to the recall of air bags manufactured by Takata Corp., the cost associated with the recall will total some $24 billion.

According to those close to the matter but who has asked to remain anonymous, the worst-case scenario may involve as many as 287.5 million airbag inflators. Still to be determined is how Takata and automakers will share the cost in the end.

This revelation would cost the company some $7 billion more than what it had initially estimated in February of this year according to a Jefferies Group LLC analyst. This sharply calls into question the viability of Takata over the largest recall in history. By some estimates, the cost could exceed between four and six times more than the total projected fiscal earnings for this year and the total assets that the company had listed on its balance sheets in 2015.

“At this juncture, the possibility of negative net worth cannot be completely denied,” Masahiro Akita and Koji Takahashi, analysts at Credit Suisse Group AG, wrote in a report Wednesday. The analysts cut their price target to 500 yen, from 1,450 yen.

Takata said in a statement to the Tokyo stock exchange, that the company is still investigating the root cause of malfunctions of its air bag inflators and has found it difficult to estimate the related costs surrounding the matter.

In spite of having lost 46 percent of the company’s value this year, Takata shares have gotten a slight uptick of rose 5.8 percent recently. Currently, Takata is valued at $324 million.

The company has until the end of 2019 in order to determine the root cause of the issue surrounding the defective inflators that have caused 11 fatalities and 100’s of injuries in the U.S. by sending plastic and metal shrapnel into vehicles that have the devices installed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continues to investigate the matter surrounding air bags manufactured by Takata and their use of ammonium nitrate in its inflators.

If you or a loved one has been injured or tragically lost because of a defective airbag, we are sorry for what has happened to you and we want to help. Whether you decide to join a class action lawsuit or file a personal injury or wrongful death claim against Takata and any other responsible party, getting compensation for our clients for injuries or even wrongful death is what we do best. We are determined to see that justice is done for our clients.

Contact the Takata Airbag Recall Attorney, John Foy & Associates at (404)400-4000 and set up a free consultation today.

April 10, 2016 - Honda may have Known about Airbag Problem in 2009:

The ethics of auto manufacturer Honda were called into question when it was discovered that the close relationship it had with airbag manufacturer Takata including quietly requesting replacements for faulty air bags installed in its vehicles without having notified the NHTSA about the issue.

According to documents discovered in 2014, Honda failed to report some 1,700 death and injury claims that were directly linked to devices manufactured by Takata. Documents recently released, however, indicate that in August of 2009, Honda knew of the connection between at least one death and four injuries in connection with the defective airbags. Honda quietly worked with Takata to have those devices replaced.

Honda is feeling the heat from both the public and federal regulators regarding its failure to notify the NHTSA of the issue and for its role in downplaying the issue.

So far there are more than 100 federal lawsuits as well as many other state suits that are working their way through the legal system across the United States. While Takata has taken the majority of the heat regarding the faulty air bags that touch on 24 million vehicles so far, and potentially as many as 90 million vehicles, it is clear that Honda is at least in some part complicit in the situation.

While Honda officials deny that the redesigned airbag inflator was because of a safety defect, they assert that they and other auto manufacturers work regularly with suppliers such as Takata to make design changes in their vehicles.

The pressure is mounting against Takata and auto manufacturers to do more to correct the situation surrounding nitrate-based air bags and design a safer alternative and replace the potentially dangerous air bags in millions of vehicles in the United States.

Because of how Takata airbags were manufactured, there have been a number of injuries and even deaths due to the bags exploding, sending shrapnel into the drivers that were meant to be protected by the devices. There are currently a number of class action, personal injury and class action lawsuits against Takata and these automakers.

If you or a loved one has been injured or tragically been killed in an accident involving a potentially fatal airbag manufactured by Takata, you have our deepest condolences for your loss. We want to help. You and your family may be entitled to compensation for any injuries or even wrongful death after such an accident. Contact the Takata Airbag Recall Attorney in Atlanta, John Foy & Associates. You may reach us at 404) 400-4000 to schedule a free consultation and legal analysis or contact us here on our website. Contact the law offices with the Strong Arm. Contact us today.

April 10, 2016 - NHTSA Head Can’t Get Replacement Parts for Takata Bag:

If the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Mark Rosekind, is finding it frustrating trying to get replacement parts for a dangerous airbag in his recalled vehicle for his family car, no doubt millions of others trying to do the same are feeling the frustration as well.

In a statement, Rosekind said that his wife discovered that the car she normally drives was listed in the NHTSA’s recall database (http://www.safecar.gov). The Rosekind’s are waiting for the parts to fix the faulty airbag, but the parts are simply not yet available.

So far, 14 automakers have recalled 24 million vehicles to fix or replace faulty air bags made by Japanese manufacturer, Takata. The government indicates that this number may go up to as many as 90 million vehicles in the near future. So far, the bags have been responsible for 11 deaths and well over 100 injuries caused by shrapnel sent flying into vehicle occupants when the airbags deploy.

So far, approximately 7.1 million inflators have been replaced but for families like Rosekind’s the wait for getting parts in response to the recall can seem like an endless wait. The NHTSA, which has taken over management of the recalls, has prioritized the replacement of bags in older vehicles that are located in areas that are high-humidity, mostly along the Gulf Coast. The humidity, according to industry experts, makes these vehicles at greater risk for malfunction.

The malfunction according to tests conducted by manufacturers and government researchers involves a chemical used in the inflator. The chemical, ammonium nitrate, has been shown to deteriorate over time when exposed to humidity and high temperatures.

So far, there have been 24 million vehicles recalled that were fitted with potentially dangerous Takata air bags. That number may soon be going up to more than 90 million vehicles according to government officials. Of those, 24 million vehicles announced to be defective so far, just 30 percent have been repaired. 

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or tragically lost their life due to a malfunctioning airbag, call the law offices of John Foy and Associates today. John Foy is the airbag recall lawyer with the “Strong Arm” who will be there to fight on your side.

April 10, 2016 - Scientists Find Root of Takata Airbag Problem:

In February of this year, there were new developments that were announced by officials regarding product safety allegations against airbag manufacturer Takata.

The first announcement in the case was what was causing the catastrophic malfunction of airbags made by Takata. According to investigators on the case, there were a number of factors. Those factors include of humidity, design and malfunctioning problems, and a chemical that is used in the deployment of the bags, ammonium nitrate. Ammonium nitrate is known for its volatility and its use in the manufacture of the airbags is especially concerning.

Officials said in a statement that the federal government is continuing to investigate Takata air bags and is considering raising the recall of 29 million airbags installed into vehicles to some 90 million vehicles.

The government said that the second development in the case was regarding the response on the part of Takata regarding concerns over potential defects in its product. The Senate Committee on Science, Commerce and Transportation in a report released in February condemned Takata for having manipulated the safety testing data and referred to Takata’s “broken safety culture.” According to the report which investigated communications within the company that dated from 2004 to 2010, it was determined by the committee that the company, which had already been fined in excess of $200 million, had faked data surrounding safety tests of its air bags, even after recalls had been announced and the recalls were underway.

The committee concluded that senior Takata staff was complicit in the manipulation of documents surrounding tests involving nitrate-based airbag inflators manufactured by the company. The committee in its report recommended that the NHTSA “phase out Takata ammonium nitrate-based airbags as soon as possible, accelerate the production of replacement airbags and more effectively manage the recall process to avoid consumer confusion.”

What is clear is that Takata bears responsibility for a defective product that has been shown to be responsible for both serious injuries and at least 11 deaths that came from defects in the company’s airbags. The evidence is clear that Takata knew about problems surrounding their air bags as early as 2000.

If you have suffered as the result of a malfunctioning Takata airbag, please consider letting John Foy & Associates represent you in a class action lawsuit or file a personal injury claim against Takata and the manufacturer. If a loved one has died, we can also file a wrongful death suit on your behalf. While no amount of money can ever take the place of the tragedy of losing someone you love, you may be entitled to monetary compensation in such a case.

April 7, 2016 - Another Death in Takata Airbag Recall:

Takata’s airbag recall is one of the largest in history. Several people have died as a result of the exploding airbags sending shrapnel into the bodies of people in crashes. A new death has happened because of the airbags, this time in Texas.

A teenage girl was killed in a crash thanks to the malfunctioning airbags. She was driving a 2002 Honda Civic when she rear-ended a car and the airbags went off. Shrapnel entered the girl’s neck and killed her. The authorities are uncertain about how fast the car was going, but they believe that had the airbag worked properly everyone would have walked away from the crash.

Ten people have been killed in the US due to the problem and another in Malaysia. 24 million US vehicles alone have been affected by the faulty bags and millions more worldwide. Only about 27% of the faulty airbags have been replaced due to a lack of parts despite work by Honda and Takata to find more suppliers.

The family was not aware of the recall before the crash. Honda has sent out recall notices on multiple occasions to car owners, but used car owners often slip under the radar. If you own an older vehicle or a used one, you must find out if the airbag it has is safe or not.

This is just another tragic example of why Honda and Takata must be made to pay for damages. If you believe you’ve been injured thanks to shrapnel from an airbag, call John Foy & Associates for a consultation.

February 6, 2016 - Ford Announces Truck Recall in for Takata Airbags:

On Tuesday, Ford Motor Co. announced that it would recall nearly 400,000 mid-sized pickup trucks so that potentially defective airbags manufactured by Japanese automotive supplier Takata can be replaced. Ford said that it will replace the air bags in 391,394 units of the 2004 through 2006 model-year Ford Ranger.

Recently the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determined that a driver in South Carolina was killed in 2004 when the Takata airbag in his Ford Ranger exploded when it deployed in an accident.

The expansion of the recall of 19 million vehicles affected has now expanded to approximately 24 million vehicles according to the NHTSA.

Ford said in a statement that owners of Ford Ranger vehicles can check to see if their vehicle is affected by the recall by entering their vehicle identification number (VIN) at Ford.com.

Takata has agreed to accept penalties of at least $70 million and up to $200 million for its failure in promptly disclosing and repairing defective airbag inflation units that have now been linked to 11 deaths and nearly 100 injuries.

Have you or someone you love been injured in an accident involving an airbag that is under recall? If so, contact the law offices of John Foy & Associates today. We are your Takata Airbag Recall Lawyer and we want to help. Contact us at (404) 400-4000 today to schedule a free consultation and legal analysis.

February 6, 2016 - Two 2016 Lexus Models Recalled Due to Fatal Airbags:

Toyota Motor Sales recently announced the recall of two of its new Lexus models due to potential issues involving the airbags installed in the vehicles. The vehicles involved are the Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h, are from the 2016 model year.

The announcement on Wednesday marks the latest of problems plaguing automotive suppliers of airbags. So far, 10 different automakers have been affected by the potentially faulty bags that have been linked to a number of injuries and 11 fatalities when airbags manufactured by Takata Corp. deploy.

Toyota’s recall covers bags made by Japanese Company Gosei that were installed in the vehicles on the driver’s side at knee level. Toyota said that the bags could “increase the risk of injury in a crash.”

Toyota’s recall affects approximately 5,000 vehicles and Lexus dealers will inspect and replace the airbags if necessary at no charge to customers.

If you or a loved one has been injured or lost their life due to a defective airbag contact the law offices of John Foy & Associates today. You could be compensated for any injuries you have suffered or file a wrongful death lawsuit.

It’s important that Takata and other manufacturers that endanger public safety be held accountable for the injuries that their products cause. Contact the Takata Airbag Recall Attorney with the strong arm. Contact John Foy & Associates at (404) 400-4000 today for a free consultation.

February 6, 2016 - Another 5.1 Million Additional Vehicles May be at Risk:

Japanese auto supplier, Takata, has recently announced that an additional 5.1 million vehicles may be affected by the faulty air bags as the company disclosed the 11th death linked to their product.

The company, along with U.S. safety regulators, made the announcement on Tuesday after this most recent fatality involving a 2007 Honda Civic in India. So far, Ford Motor Company is the first automaker to announce a recall of all affected vehicles. In 2006 a Ford Ranger was involved in a crash that killed the driver because of shrapnel that flew from the faulty Takata airbag.

Previous recalls involving Takata airbags affect older vehicles, however, the latest batch of recalls involve at least one car manufactured in 2014 and the company said that more recalls could be made at a later date.

By some estimates, more than 54 million vehicles worldwide could be affected by a recall of the potentially faulty airbags manufactured by Takata.

Because of how Takata airbags were manufactured, there have been a number of injuries and even deaths due to the bags exploding, sending shrapnel into the drivers that were meant to be protected by the devices.

Have you or a loved one been injured or been tragically killed in an accident involving a potentially fatal airbag manufactured by Takata? We are deeply sorry for your loss and we want to help. You and your family could be entitled to compensation for any injuries or even wrongful death. Contact the Takata Airbag Recall Attorney in Atlanta, John Foy. Call us at (404) 400-4000 to schedule a free consultation today.

February 6, 2016 - Takata CEO to Step Down after Airbag Recall:

According to sources close to the Japanese airbag supplier, Takata Corp., the company is preparing for the exit of the company’s CEO, Shigehisa Takada, after the largest recall in automotive history because of faulty airbags.

Takata has been under scrutiny across the automotive industry and by federal regulators over problems with the airbags that span over 50 million vehicles for the past two years. Now, after the most recent death – the 11th – that have been linked to the company’s airbags, the company has said that there will be an internal reorganization within.

The 54-year old CEO has been conspicuously quiet on the matter that has been swirling around the company . Shigehisa Takada stepped moved into the position of CEO after his father, Juichiro Takada died in 2011.

If you or a loved one has been injured or tragically lost because of a defective airbag, we want to help. There is a very reasonable expectation that when you purchase a new vehicle, the safety features installed in that vehicle truly are there to keep you safe, not cause harm or death.

At the law firm of John Foy & Associates, we are sorry for what has happened to you and we want to help. Whether you decide to join a class action lawsuit or file a personal injury claim against Takata and any other responsible party, getting compensation for our clients for injuries or even wrongful death is what we do best.

Call the Takata Airbag Recall Attorney at (404)400-4000 and set up a free consultation today.

February 6, 2016 - Millions of Dangerous Airbags Still in Use:

In the automotive industry, airbags were installed in new vehicles because they are supposed to save lives. Unfortunately, however, because of poorly made airbags by Japanese supplier Takata, several people have either been seriously injured or even lost their lives.

The problem isn’t a small one. It goes to nearly every automaker and affects millions upon millions that have been installed with the potentially lethal bags.

In one such tragic case, shrapnel from the airbag installed in Joel Knight’s Ford Ranger flew and punctured a 1-inch hole Joel Knight’s neck and went on to break his vertebra. The flying bit of metal hit Knight with a force that investigators initially believed may have been a fatal shooting.

The accident happened when Knight hit a cow that had wandered onto a highway in South Carolina. It was not the initial impact that killed Knight, but rather that he bled to death because of the shrapnel from the airbag in his truck had caused him fatal injury rather than save his life.

So far, Takata airbags have been linked to 10 deaths and over 100 serious injuries. This is even after a massive recall that involved 14 automakers a decade ago where bags should have either been repaired or replaced. As in Joel Knight’s case, and in the case of millions of other drivers, the faulty bags were never even recalled.

An estimated 54 million metal “inflaters” manufactured by Takata have been installed in vehicles in the United States. Of those, 24 million that have been recalled, a mere 30 percent have been repaired. An estimated 24 million more vehicles have not been recalled to replace the inflators that contain the explosive compound, ammonium nitrate.

If you believe that you or a loved one has been seriously injured or tragically lost their life due to a malfunctioning airbag, give John Foy a call today. Get the airbag recall lawyer with the “Strong Arm” fighting on your side. Call the law offices of John Foy today at (404) 400-4000 for a free consultation.