Risk of Airbags’ Failure to Deploy Leads to Recall

In what seems like the year of automobile recalls, we can now add Jaguar Land Rover to the list of auto manufacturers who have issued major recalls in 2014 due to defects in their products.

On Wednesday, it was reported that Jaguar Land Rover will recall more than 40,000 vehicles in the United States due to a defect that may prevent passenger-side airbags from deploying in a crash.  The recall applies to the LR2, model years 2010 through 2015, and the Evoque, model years 2012 and 2013.

While the previous auto defect recalls we have discussed on this blog involved the negligent design and/or malfunction of purely mechanical components, the Jaguar Land Rover recall is unique because it is attributable, at least in part, to software issues.  Car manufacturers have introduced computer technology into the design of their vehicles to improve the operation, maintenance, and safety of their products.  The problem, of course, is that the use of computers creates a host of new risks that were not present in older models.  Whereas previously a consumer need only be concerned about the mechanical components of a vehicle malfunctioning, now consumers also face the risk of an otherwise-working vehicle malfunctioning due to computer and software errors.

As Ohio airbag injury lawyers, we have seen firsthand the extreme hazards, personal injuries, and even deaths caused by airbag malfunctions.  When an airbag does not deploy properly, a driver’s face may smash into the steering wheel or windshield, or a passenger may collide with the dashboard or the windshield.  Conversely, an airbag that deploys with excessive speed and force may cause fractures to the face of the person who is being “protected.” Forceful deployment has even been known to cause airbag injuries as severe as blindness in some victims.

If you or a loved one have been injured due to a defective airbag, contact the Cleveland, Ohio auto defect attorneys at Lowe Scott Fisher Co., LPA for a free consultation.