If your job duties require you to drive, your employer may have provided you with a company car. Fortunately, this car probably has airbags, which exponentially improve your chances of surviving a motor vehicle accident. Of course, if your company car has a defective Takata airbag, its airbags may do more harm than good.
Faulty Takata airbags have been in the news for more than a decade. Because these airbags may explode and seriously injure or kill drivers, many vehicle manufacturers have recalled cars, trucks and SUVs that have defective airbags.
Unrepaired vehicles are still on the road
Even though millions of vehicles worldwide are subject to recall notices, defective Takata airbags continue to kill drivers. In fact, in January 2021, a South Carolina man died when the airbag on the vehicle he was driving exploded. The man was not the owner of the car, so it is not yet clear whether he knew about the unaddressed recall.
You can find outstanding recalls without your employer’s help
If you do not know whether your company car has a defective recall, there is an easy way to check. The National Transporation Safety Administration maintains a list of recalled vehicles. Simply input your work vehicle’s identification number into the search feature to know whether your life may be in danger.
You may be eligible for financial compensation
A defective Takata airbag may cause you to suffer catastrophic injuries. Fortunately, if your injury occurs when you are at work, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. You may also have a legal cause of action against a third party, such as Takata or your vehicle’s manufacturer.
Ultimately, to keep yourself safe when driving your company car, it may be advisable both to check for unaddressed recalls and to stop driving your work vehicle until repairs are complete.
