Some vehicle-linked safety recalls are comparatively limited in scope and
not closely tied to dire life-and-death issues for consumers in Indiana,
the United States and across the globe.
Others most decidedly are.
Take the Takata air bag recall, for instance. The alarming tale surrounding
that call back features expected safety-enhancing devices that have in
multiple instances exploded summarily into the faces and bodies of drivers
and their passengers. It is underscored by what has been one of the most
aggressive and expansive regulatory responses to a safety problem in history.
The statistics most closely related to the defective bags are truly alarming
and sad. Hundreds of people in multiple countries have reportedly been
injured following outbursts of propelled shrapnel. And, as noted in one recent
article updating bag-linked fatalities, more than 20 people have suffered
wrongful deaths directly attributed to the exploding bags.
The recall has now been ongoing for several years, with varied — though
relatively close — estimates posited concerning its dimensions. One national
publication delving into its details cited earlier this week the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s
conclusion that it is “the largest and most complex vehicle recall
in U.S. history.” Approximately 50 million bags are now subject to
call-back fixes.
NHTSA regulators state that automakers must “better engage with consumers
and communities” to identify every affected vehicle and implement
a safety fix. The agency is asking manufacturers to make relevant disclosures
on their websites and to be more proactive about finding and fixing recalled bags.
Consumers in Indiana and elsewhere might reasonably have questions, of
course. The NHTSA urges them to visit the agency’s website and to
otherwise engage with it via social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
Indiana motorists might also have queries or concerns regarding accidents/injuries
linked with defective products or third-party negligence. They can directly
contact a proven personal injury law firm for guidance and, when necessary,
diligent legal representation.
