A New York couple suffered extensive injuries brought on by faulty airbags in their 2009 Acura TSX. Their vehicle is just one of the nearly 40 million vehicles recalled for Takata airbag defects.
In 2017, The Carlson Law Firm began investigating the couple’s crash on a roadway in Nassau County, NY. The investigation stems from a crash that left both vehicle occupants with extensive injuries.
As the couple came to a traffic light, six airbags deployed in their vehicle without warning or cause. The force from the steering wheel’s airbag explosion knocked the driver unconscious. This led to the vehicle veering off the road and into a tree. Because of the faulty airbags and crash, the driver suffered a fractured sternum, whiplash, neck and back pain, and a severe concussion.
Additionally, the driver’s wife was riding in the passenger’s seat. She experienced two hip fractures, a torn shoulder cuff, brain bleed and a total of 18 broken bones. She is a licensed medical doctor and is no longer able to work due to her extensive injuries. In addition to this loss of income, her quality of life has been greatly affected. She required several surgeries and underwent physical therapy to learn to walk again.
Both victims of the defective airbags experienced post-concussion headaches. Neither the passenger nor the driver was able to speak with police officers at the scene because of the extent of the injuries they suffered.
What causes airbags to deploy without a crash?
Complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that random, unprovoked airbag deployment is a common occurrence. Insurance companies typically don’t pay for damaged vehicles when there was no collision. This often leaves drivers on the hook for thousands of dollars in repairs. In addition, as is the case of our clients, these airbag deployments can lead to crashes and serious injuries. This type of defect may occur when:
- Subject to electrical interference from other vehicle components;
- a short-circuit can cause inadvertent airbag deployment of the front airbags;
- side curtain airbags; and/or
- seat belt pretensioners while driving.
In the case of our clients, not only did they have defective airbags, but their vehicle was equipped with a recalled Takata airbag. One of the difficulties in Takata cases is proving that these types of crashes happened because of defective equipment.
The Carlson Law Firm Can Help
Injuries that are the result of defective products can lead to substantial physical, emotional and financial suffering. These injuries can completely alter your life. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries because of a defective airbag, contact The Carlson Law Firm to speak with a qualified product liability attorney. We can help you recover damages for:
- Lost income
- Medical costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
“Knowing that at any time your vehicle, which is meant to keep you safe, could actually harm you is a terrible thing to have to consider,” said Managing Partner Craig Carlson. “Our client has lost her ability to work, and the quality of her life has suffered immensely, which is why she deserves proper compensation for her losses.”
