Nissan Versa Airbag Claim

Nissan Versa Takata Airbag Injury Claim

Were you hurt by metal fragments or shrapnel when the airbags in your Nissan Versa exploded during a car accident? Jason Turchin wants to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. At the Law Offices of Jason Turchin, our products liability attorneys have helped many clients recover damages for injuries caused by defective airbags. Call us today at (800) 337-7755 to see how we can help you.

In 2013, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received notice for the first time from several auto manufacturers regarding potentially defective Takata airbags. Since then, 50 million vehicles containing defective Takata airbags have been recalled, and according to an article published by ABC News, 16.7 million vehicles still contain defective airbags that have yet to be replaced.

Several years after the recall began, Nissan finally recalled approximately 105,000 Nissan Versa owners in July 2018 that their vehicles were equipped with defective Takata airbags. The vehicles that have been recalled include:

• 2007-2011 Nissan Versa Sedan (C11)
• 2007-2012 Nissan Versa Hatchback (C11)

What is the Problem With Takata Airbags?

At least 23 people have been killed and hundreds have been injured as a result of defective Takata airbags.

What makes these airbags so dangerous is that they have a tendency to shoot metal shrapnel and debris at occupants when they deploy, which can result in serious injury or death, especially if a fragment should slice a major artery or vein.

Common injuries that have been associated with flying shrapnel from Takata airbags include:

• Severe lacerations of face head, face, and neck
• Eye trauma
• Blindness
• Ruptured and torn arteries and veins
• Gunshot or stabbing type wounds
• Brain bleeding
• Head injury
• Fractures
• Death

So why Does the Airbag Discharge Shrapnel When it Deploys?

According to the New York Times, Takata admitted that it had improperly stored chemicals and had mishandled the manufacture of explosive propellants that were used in the air bags at its plant in Mexico. Now the airbags can explode and launch metal fragments due to propellant degradation that occurs after long term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

This poses a particularly high risk to drivers in South Florida where humidity is very high.

Should I Make a Claim Against Nissan for my Injuries?

While airbags are supposed to protect you from serious injury after a crash, you should not sustain serious fractures or lacerations from the airbags. You may be entitled to compensation from any injury which is greater than you otherwise might have had in the crash but for the defective airbag. For example, if a minor fender bender would have caused you whiplash injuries, but the airbag deployed and caused you to fracture a bone in your face requiring surgery, you may be entitled to compensation for that fracture or surgery.

In order to hold Nissan liable for your injuries, you may have to prove that:

• You suffered an actual injury.
• The defective Takata airbag was the proximate cause of your injury.
• The airbag was being used as intended.
• Nissan knew or should have known that some of their older vehicles had been equipped with Takata airbags and failed to remove, repair or adequately warn vehicle owners about the defective airbags.

If you were struck by shrapnel when the airbags in your Nissan Versa exploded during a crash, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Just because the airbag protected you from the impact and the force of the crash does not mean that your “residual” injuries from the airbag explosion are meaningless.

At the Law Offices of Jason of Turchin, we believe that your airbags should never do more harm than good, and that those who had a duty to provide automobiles with safe airbags should be held liable when you get hurt.

Jason Turchin and his team of product liability attorneys have helped many victims who have been injured by Takata airbags, and he can fight for you too. Call us for your free consultation today at (800) 337-7755 to get started on your claim.

Products Liability – Automotive Defects – Nissan Recall Campaign Bulletin – Takata Recall