The largest automotive recall in U.S. history, Japanese car maker Takata continues to recall millions of air bags in the wake of discovery that these safety devices are actually doing more harm than good. To date, 20 people have been killed and over 180 injured by these defective air bags.

CBS News reports on the reason for the Takata air bag recall, “Takata uses the chemical ammonium nitrate to create a smaller explosion and fill air bags quickly in a crash. But the chemical can deteriorate when exposed to high humidity and temperatures and burn too fast, blowing apart a metal canister that can hurl hot shrapnel into unsuspecting drivers and passengers.”

The phased recall started in May 2016 and is slated to continue until 2019 with priority going to those cars most likely to be impacted by the defect– older vehicles in locations that tend to be hot and/or humid. To date, the recall has impacted 19 car makers, 42 million vehicles and 69 million air bags.

To find out if your vehicle is impacted by this recall, the NHSTA has set up an online lookup tool here.

Vehicle recalls are some of the most common types of product recalls that are too often brought to consumers and manufactures attention only after there has been a serious injury or death. What are your legal options if you are part of this recall? There are two basic scenarios:

• Your air bags have been recalled but you have not been injured: The overwhelming majority of those impacted by the recall have not been injured because they have not been in an accident in which the airbags were deployed. This is a very good thing because they are being put on notice to avoid a disaster. What you need to do is get your air bags changed out by your car manufacturer and you should not have to pay for it.
• Your Takata air bags injured or killed you or a loved one: In those instances in which the air bag did go off and the defects lead to serious injury or death, you have legal rights you should assert in the form of  a personal injury or wrongful death claim, depending on the nature of your case. Walch Law is here to help. Your legal case rests on the important theory of product liability and a showing that the defective product is the source  of your injuries or family death.

If you are dealing with injuries from a product recall and want to learn more about your legal rights, give Walch Law a call today to discuss things further. We are available 24/7 and take all our cases on a contingency fee basis meaning you don’t pay a penny until we get you paid. We look forward to hearing from you.