Takata Airbag Recall Lawsuit Attorney

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.