Warning Issued Regarding Danger of Fake Air Bags | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

What Happened:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently issued a consumer safety advisory about the danger of counterfeit air bags. The fake air bags, which are supposed to inflate at the time of an accident, may not deploy, or may instead release dangerous metal shrapnel at the time of inflation, the agency said in a statement.

Fortunately, the problem is believed to impact less than 0.1 percent of all vehicles in the U.S. The only cars at risk are those that have had an air bag replaced by a repair shop that is not affiliated with an auto dealership, according to the statement. The NHTSA also warned that salvaged and rebuilt used cars might have the fakes. 

The agency said it has been working with the Justice Department and other federal agencies to stop the importation and installation of counterfeit air bags. Many of the fake air bags that are sold are affiliated with organizes crime which is why the Justice Department has taken on an important role in the investigation.

Virginians who have had air bags replaced in the past three years by shops not affiliated with dealerships are asked to go to www.SaferCar.gov for more information.

The Virginia Injury Lawyer’s Perspective: 

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a dangerous or defective product, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. There is a finite period of time to take legal action against those responsible for manufacturing the device and once the statute of limitations expires, you are barred from seeking compensation.

Attorneys with our Virginia personal injury law firm have helped many victims of dangerous and defective products recover damages from companies whose negligence or disregard for consumer safety led to injuries.

Helpful Info:

If you or a family member has been injured by a defective or dangerous product, you can begin to learn about your legal rights and options by reading this article.

Have Questions?

We maintain a library of attorneys’ answers to frequently asked questions regarding defective products.

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