Takata Injury Lawsuit
Talk to an Airbag Lawsuit Lawyer About Recovering the Financial Compensation You Deserve
If you or a loved one has been harmed by a defective Takata airbag, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit. Many victims and families have already filed claims against Takata and the automobile manufacturers that installed Takata’s defective airbags in their vehicles. While there are several steps involved in filing an airbag injury lawsuit, the first – and most important – step is talking to a lawyer about your legal rights.
We represent Takata airbag injury victims and their families. Airbag injury lawyer, David P. Willis is a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer since 1988 and has been representing injured clients against product makers and the automobile manufacturers for 40+ years. If you have a case, we will handle your airbag injury lawsuit at no out-of-pocket cost, and you won’t owe any fees or costs unless we help you recover just compensation.
What Do You Need to Know About Filing an Airbag Injury Lawsuit?
While there are several steps involved in filing an airbag injury lawsuit, your lawyer will handle most of these steps for you. However, you will still need to remain actively involved, and you will need to stay in communication with your lawyer throughout the process. With this in mind, here is a brief overview of what you can expect if you hire a lawyer at Willis Law Firm Airbag Injury Lawyers to represent you:
1. We Will Gather the Evidence Needed to Prove Your Legal Rights
Due to the widespread and well-known issues with Takata’s defective airbags, we have much of the information we need to prove your legal rights already. However, we will still need to gather evidence that is specific to your case. Once you engage our firm, we will work quickly to gather the evidence we need to file your airbag injury lawsuit.
2. We Will Carefully Calculate Your Financial and Non-Financial Losses
Along with evidence of liability, we will also need to collect evidence of your financial and non-financial losses. When we file your lawsuit, we will be seeking just compensation for your losses to date and the losses you will incur in the future. This includes your medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, loss of consortium and companionship, and loss of enjoyment of life.
3. We Will File Your Lawsuit Against Takata or Your (or Your Loved One’s) Vehicle Manufacturer
Once we have the evidence we need, then we will file your lawsuit. We will be sure to file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires, and we will use the litigation process to gather any additional evidence from Takata or your (or your loved one’s) vehicle manufacturer. This part of the process can take time, and we will keep you updated every step of the way.
4. We Will Negotiate for an Out-of-Court Settlement
Given the well-known issues with Takata’s airbags, many of the successful lawsuits filed to date have resulted in out-of-court settlements. Your airbag lawsuit lawyer will negotiate for a favorable settlement on your behalf; and, if we receive an offer in your case, we will help you decide whether to accept.
5. We Will Litigate Your Case in Court if Necessary
If a fair settlement isn’t on the table, we will litigate your case in court. This will involve filing pre-trial motions, preparing for trial, and arguing your case in front of a judge or jury. All of these steps require legal knowledge and familiarity with the trial process, so it is important to have an experienced lawyer on your side.
What Can You Expect from Your Airbag Injury Lawsuit?
What can you expect from your airbag injury lawsuit if you choose our firm to represent you? As your law firm, we will do everything we can to help you recover. We will use the details of your case to seek maximum compensation for your losses, and we will rely on our experience to clearly establish liability for your (or your loved one’s) injury. We will also:
- Work with you one-on-one to make sure we understand the financial and non-financial impacts of your (or your loved one’s) injury
- Engage experts as necessary to prove that the airbag was defective and prove the long-term impacts of the accident
- Handle your case efficiently and without unnecessary delays so that you can move on from the accident as soon as possible
- Use our experience to fight for just compensation in settlement negotiations and in court (if necessary)
- Answer your questions in a timely manner, discuss your options with you, and do everything we can to make sure you are satisfied with the outcome of your case
Everything You Need to Know About Filing a Takata Airbag Lawsuit
Understanding your legal rights can be complicated. But, it is also extremely important. With this in mind, here is a quick summary of everything you need to know about filing a Takata airbag lawsuit:
Who: Individuals who have suffered airbag-related injuries and families who have lost loved ones due to injuries caused by Takata’s defective airbags should talk to a lawyer about filing a Takata airbag lawsuit. Victims and families can file lawsuits against Takata as well as the automakers that installed Takata’s defective airbags in their vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) maintains a list of makes, models and model years that are subject to Takata airbag recalls.
What: Takata airbag lawsuits involve injuries and fatalities resulting from airbag failures—specifically, failures of the inflator mechanisms in Takata’s airbags that cause these airbags to explode instead of deploying properly. This issue has been well documented, and lawsuits have been filed against Takata (and the automakers that equipped their vehicles with Takata airbags) across the country.
These lawsuits are different from the class action claims that have been filed in relation to the Takata airbag recalls. Takata airbag injury victims and their families must file individual lawsuits to recover full compensation for their injuries or their loved one’s death. If you or a loved one has been harmed by a Takata airbag, you should talk to a lawyer about filing a lawsuit as soon as possible.
When: The first reported case of a Takata airbag-related injury was in 2004. Since then, there have been numerous additional reports of both injuries and fatalities. While each state has its own statute of limitations for product defect claims, if you or a loved one has been harmed by a Takata airbag in the past few years, there is a good chance that you still have time to file.
With that said, if you think you may have a Takata airbag lawsuit, you should speak with a lawyer promptly. It is important to collect the available evidence as soon as possible, so you do not want to wait any longer than necessary to put an experienced lawyer on your side.
Where: Vehicles sold nationwide have been equipped with defective Takata airbags. While vehicles in locations with high humidity may be at the greatest risk for experiencing airbag explosions, Takata’s defective airbags present risks for drivers and passengers throughout the United States.
Why: If you have a Takata airbag lawsuit, asserting your legal rights is the only way to recover the compensation you deserve. Airbag-related injuries and fatalities can leave victims and their families facing significant costs. No one deserves to bear these costs—and the companies that are responsible for victims’ and families’ losses deserve to be held accountable.
How: Filing a Takata airbag lawsuit starts with hiring an experienced airbag injury lawyer to represent you. This costs nothing out of pocket, and you can get started with a free, no-obligation consultation 24/7.
Can Our Airbag Lawsuit Lawyer Help You Obtain a Settlement?
When you choose our firm to handle your airbag injury lawsuit, we will do everything we can to negotiate a favorable out-of-court settlement. This reduces the time involved in asserting your legal rights, and it avoids the inherent uncertainty of going to trial.
But, there are no guarantees. Neither we nor any other law firm can guarantee that you will obtain a settlement. With that said, what we can guarantee is that:
- We will seek maximum compensation based on the facts of your case. We handle all cases individually, seeking maximum compensation based on each individual client’s losses.
- We will help you make informed decisions about settlement. If we receive a settlement offer in your case, we will help you decide whether to accept based on the total value of your case, the amount you will take home and your likelihood of success at trial.
- We will handle your case with your best interests in mind. Above all, we will handle your airbag injury lawsuit with your best interests in mind. Every decision and recommendation we make will be based on what is best for you.
Settlements in Cases Involving Takata’s Faulty Airbags
If you hire our firm to represent you, what can you expect in terms of a settlement from your Takata airbag lawsuit? Whether you were injured by a faulty airbag inflator or any other airbag defect, your losses are unique to you—and this means that the value of your settlement will need to be determined during your case. An airbag lawsuit lawyer at our firm will work closely with you to calculate the financial and non-financial costs of your injuries, and then we will use this information to seek a fair settlement on your behalf.
In 2017, a federal judge approved a $741 million settlement against several automakers, including BMW, Mazda, Toyota and Subaru related to injuries caused by faulty airbags installed in their vehicles. Since Takata has filed for bankruptcy, seeking just compensation in a Takata airbag lawsuit generally involves suing an automaker instead of suing the airbag maker directly.
This settlement was divided among multiple plaintiffs. When you hire an airbag lawsuit lawyer at our firm to represent you, your lawyer will seek a fair settlement for your injuries based on your specific circumstances. Again, a settlement is not guaranteed, but what we can guarantee is that we will do everything possible to help you recover the financial compensation you deserve.
In a typical case, a settlement for injuries caused by Takata’s faulty airbags will include financial compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy expenses
- Prescriptions, medical supplies, transportation and other out-of-pocket costs
- Lost wages
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium and companionship
- Loss of society and support
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Even if automakers are not directly responsible for the airbag inflator issues that are causing serious and fatal injuries, they can still be held fully liable for victims’ and families’ losses. Like other types of product defect claims, airbag defect claims are governed by the law of “strict liability.” In strict liability lawsuits, companies can be required to pay for victims’ and families’ losses without proof that they were negligent in causing these losses. Thus, even if Takata can no longer be held liable because of its bankruptcy, victims and families still can—and should—work with an experienced airbag lawsuit lawyer to seek just compensation.
Case Development: Seeking a Settlement ASE DEVELOPMENT: SEEKING A SETTLEMENT FOR A DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAG INFLATOR
Let’s say you are entitled to a settlement for serious or fatal injuries caused by a Takata airbag defect. How will an airbag lawsuit lawyer at our firm develop your case for just compensation?
Some of the key steps involved in developing a case for a defective Takata airbag inflator include:
- Proving that Your (or Your Loved One’s) Vehicle was Equipped with a Dangerous Airbag Manufactured by Takata – Seeking a settlement for a Takata airbag defect starts with proving that your (or your loved one’s) vehicle was equipped with a dangerous airbag manufactured by Takata. Information on the years, makes and models equipped with these airbags is readily available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If your (or your loved one’s) vehicle is covered by the NHTSA’s Takata airbag recall, we can use the vehicle’s title, the police report from the accident and other evidence to prove that you have a valid Takata airbag-related claim.
- Proving that the Dangerous Airbag is Responsible for Your (or Your Loved One’s) Injuries – To hold an automaker liable in a Takata airbag lawsuit, it is necessary to prove that one of Takata’s faulty airbags is responsible for your (or your loved one’s) injuries. This is a critical aspect of case development, and the need to prove this connection is among the most important reasons to put an experienced airbag lawsuit lawyer on your side. The police report, your (or your loved one’s) medical records and various other forms of evidence may be available to prove this connection as well.
- Proving the Financial Costs of Your Injuries or Your Loved One’s Death – As we discussed above, serious and fatal injuries from faulty airbags can lead to significant financial costs. You must be able to prove these costs in order to recover just compensation. This includes not only the costs you and your family have incurred to date, but also the costs that you and your family are likely to incur in the future. Receipts, bills, medical records and employment records are all examples of types of evidence we can use to prove this portion of your claim.
- Proving the Extent of Your Pain and Suffering, Emotional Trauma, and Other Non-Financial Losses – As we also discussed above, serious and fatal injuries from faulty airbags can lead to significant non-financial costs as well. Proving these costs (such as pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life) is much less straightforward than proving the financial costs of a serious airbag defect. However, it is also a critical part of the case development process, as victims’ and families’ non-financial damages will exceed their financial damages in most cases.
- Proving Your Right to Just Compensation Based on Automakers’ Strict Liability for Takata’s Faulty Airbags – Using all of the available evidence, your airbag lawsuit lawyer will prove your right to just compensation based on automakers’ strict liability for Takata’s faulty airbags. Your lawyer will show that your (or your loved one’s) injuries would not have happened were it not for the airbag defect. Your lawyer will also show all of the ways that the accident has impacted—and is continuing to impact—your life, and your lawyer will rely on his or her experience to seek a favorable out-of-court settlement on your behalf.
Discuss Your Case with an Experienced Airbag Lawsuit Lawyer for Free
Do you need to know more about filing an airbag injury lawsuit? If so, we invite you to get in touch. We are currently accepting Takata airbag defect cases against all major auto manufacturers. Call us or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with an airbag lawsuit lawyer today.