Auto recalls can often feel burdensome and inconvenient. Some people don’t like making an appointment at dealerships, being without their car or they don’t want to deal with possible up sales on other repairs. However, recalls are issued due to problems with a product’s safety. This means that every time you ignore a recall, you are putting yourself and others in danger. The perfect example of such a situation is the Takata Recall.
Should Floridians Ignore the Takata Recall?
When it was discovered that airbags produced by the Takata Corporation posed a serious risk to the public, a nationwide recall was issued. This was due to the fact that the inflators in these airbags could explode and pepper vehicle occupants with metal shrapnel. So far, this defect is blamed for at least 23 deaths and over 300 injuries worldwide.
So, why would anyone ignore such a recall? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), vehicle owners across Florida are doing just that. Around 459,000 vehicles in Broward and Miami-Dade counties have not had their Takata airbags repaired yet. This is even more troubling due to the circumstances surrounding the defect.
Defective Takata inflators become even more volatile when exposed to hot and humid environments. This makes South Florida the perfect environment to cause this malfunction, heightening the risk to Floridians. State officials are so concerned about the problem that they are considering a statewide mandatory recall program. This program would prevent drivers from renewing their licenses and vehicle registration till outstanding recalls are addressed.
Do you think a mandatory recall program is the answer for our state? Will the people responsible for this deadly defect have to answer to its victims? The product liability attorneys at Colson Hicks Eidson will monitor developments to keep you informed. Our attorneys have represented Takata victims before and can help anyone else who has fallen victim to this defect.
