Just recently, a civil suit was filed on behalf of an injured woman against Honda and Takata. According to the suit, the faulty Takata airbag in her Honda vehicle nearly killed the plaintiff when she got into a car accident. Car accident lawyers in San Diego can help with cases like this where there is a faulty airbag.
Based on a news report filed by the Associated Press, 18-year-old Karina Dorado was driving her Honda when she got into a car accident. The accident caused her Takata airbag to deploy, except that the air bag actually put her in more danger instead of saving her life. The airbag caused metal shards to fly out, and some of these shards got into her throat and punctured her trachea (windpipe).
Karina was immediately whisked to a trauma center, and there the surgeons were able to remove the metal shards and treat her damaged vocal chords. She also received neck wounds, though those injuries were also treated as she gradually regains her voice.
How the Accident Happened
Jose Dorado bought the second-hand car for his daughter in Match of 2016. He didn’t know that this particular Honda model was actually involved in an Arizona car accident. The damage to the car was severe enough that the insurance company declared it as a total loss.
Apparently, the car was given a salvage title before it was repaired and resold in Las Vegas. The airbag in this unit was actually removed from another 2001 Honda that was never fixed for the airbag recall.
Defective Takata Airbags
Almost 200 people have already been injured or even killed by these defective Takata airbags, which have already caused a recall of 100 million vehicles all over the world. The fault in the airbags lies in its use of propellant that deteriorates due to the humidity and heat. They’re liable to explode, and these explosions can send metal shrapnel whizzing inside the car interior. That’s what happened to Karina Dorado, according to the suit.
Karina’s case illustrates the dangers of buying a car with a salvage title. That’s because it’s virtually impossible to know for sure where its various car parts came from. No one can even confirm that the repair work on the car was done properly, and that all the parts were deemed safe. According to the Dorado family lawyer, even if Jose had run the VIN of the Honda, he couldn’t have known about the airbag because the NHTSA website incites that the particular car model had any outstanding recalls.
What Should You Do If Your Air Bag Explodes?
Your best legal option is to consult with an auto defect lawyer who can determine if you have a case. Our San Diego injury attorneys can make sure that the evidence is compiled so that a case can be filed against the negligent parties.
As a car owner, you have every right to expect to be safe when you drive. Air bags are supposed to help save your life instead of endangering you. With our legal expertise, you may get the damages you need to help cover the costs of medical care due to an exploding airbag.