Florida Drivers More At-Risk For Injury Due to Faulty Airbags

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on July 15, 2015

A report released by the Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday indicates that nearly 75% of the ruptured faulty airbags they have tested that were manufactured by Takata are from the State of Florida. Officials cite the heat and humidity associated with Florida weather as factors in the high rate of rupture of these airbags. The airbags expand with such force that they can potentially propel shrapnel throughout the vehicle, severely injuring occupants.

Of the eight deaths that have been attributed to the faulty airbags, nearly all of them were from southern states and occurred in warm temperatures. One of the victims was an Orlando area resident. So far, over 60 million vehicles have been recalled due to airbag defects. Eleven auto manufacturers have models that are affected, including Honda, Toyota and BMW. Officials believe they have now reached the point where they are seeing ‘recall fatigue’ where consumers know that their vehicle is part of the recall, but yet do not act to rectify the problem.

Though not everyone drives a vehicle that may be affected by this particular recall, it is a little known fact that many auto manufacturers issue recalls every year for known defects in their products. Some recalls are relatively minor, but many recalls deal with safety components such as disintegrating tires, exploding airbags, or loosely latching seat belts. The potential for disaster in such types of situations is enormous for consumers and vehicle manufacturers work to ensure these problems are identified before mass production. However, it seems that there are a significant number of problems that slip through and ultimately wind up costing consumers either financially or personally.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident that was the result of a mechanical defect in an automobile, you know what a toll the physical and mental pain can take on its victims. Often, the challenge of bringing those responsible to justice can seem overwhelming and you may not know where to begin. At the law offices of James O. Cunningham, our team of legal representatives is experienced in helping clients deal with personal injury litigation. We will fight to make sure you get the justice you deserve. Please give us a call today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587) for a free initial consultation.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.