Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP - 89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515

Japanese Auto Part Maker Takata Implicated in Massive Airbag Recall

June 29, 2014 By

Japanese automotive airbag manufacturer Takata is once again in the news for mistakes in its manufacturing processes.

In 1995 it was discovered that safety belts they manufactured did not close properly, leading to over eight million vehicles being recalled in the U.S.

More errors surfaced in April 2000 when it was discovered that the device which is supposed to inflate their airbag was too powerful and not only inflated the bag, but also fired pieces of metal at break neck speed towards the passenger.

Since then Takata has had a series of problems with U.S. law enforcement due to corruption amongst some of its executives resulting in fines and jail sentences. The corruption involved price fixing of safety belts sold in the United States.

And now, having thought they had fixed the problem with the airbags, it appears not to be the case that Takata airbags are still responsible for throwing “shrapnel” upon deployment, leading to yet another major vehicle recall. Major auto manufacturers, such as Toyota and Honda, are involved in the recall. Honda has announced that it has reports of injuries, and even deaths, which have resulted from the defect.

Recall

If you, or someone you know, have an injured in a serious accident involving a defective vehicle or part, call the Law Offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP –  89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515 –  (888) 244-5480.

Filed Under: Auto recalls

How the Toyota and General Motors Recalls Affect You

March 31, 2014 By

As far back as 2003, General Motors manufactured cars which had a very particular and lethal defect.  The cars suffered from a power issue which caused them to spontaneously lose power to the power steering system and the air bags.  As a result of the defect over a dozen people lost their lives, and hundreds more were likely injured, all while General Motors failed to recall the defective vehicles.

In 2014 General Motors finally recalled 2.6 million vehicles which suffered from the defect.  In the wake of the record $1.6 billion settlement the U.S. government just reached with Toyota, a company which was also found to have failed to recall defective vehicles, it is likely that General Motors will also see a significant settlement with federal authorities.

Additionally, those who have been injured as a result of General Motors’ failure to recall the defective vehicles, and the loved ones of those who lost their lives due to the faulty cars, are likely to take the company to task for failing to properly protect those who purchased and used their products.

Major car manufacturers have a duty to not only produce safe machines, but also to warn the public when something has gone wrong.  General Motors and Toyota both failed to give the public timely notice that their vehicles suffered from deadly malfunctions.  If you, or anyone you know, has been a victim of a General Motors or Toyota vehicle, please call us today at (888) 244-5480 for a free case evaluation.

Filed Under: Auto recalls, Uncategorized