When a defective product is noted and a recall is authorized, people sometimes assume dozens or even hundreds of injuries and deaths must have been reported. However, the reality is that it doesn’t actually take very many incidents to cause a recall. The goal of the recall, after all, is to keep those numbers from rising and to rectify the situation as soon as possible.
Take, for example, the recent recall involving Takata, a company that manufactures airbags. They have just been forced to start a recall on their airbags that impacts millions of units and vehicles, across many different brands — estimates put it in the range of 16 million at this time. It’s a huge recall, and the U.S. Department of Transportation had to pressure the company to make it happen.
The issue with the airbags is that they use propellant that breaks down over time. While it may work right out of the gate, older cars could end up with airbags that won’t actually inflate when needed.
So, how many deaths have been linked to this issue? Over the years, the grand total is just a half a dozen. That is for the worldwide total, not just the total in the United States. This case really shows how just a handful of incidents can spur a recall of an incredible amount of products, when things fall into place.
Those who have been injured by defective products, which may or may not have been recalled after those defects were discovered, need to know all of the legal options that they have to seek compensation in Florida.