Volkswagen recently recalled 143,000 Atlas SUV due to faulty parts that have the potential to lead to serious injuries if drivers and passengers in the affected vehicle are involved in an accident.
If you were injured as a result of faulty automotive components in the Houston area, you may be able to seek compensation with the help of a product liability lawyer.
The Volkswagen Atlas Recall
Volkswagen recently issued a recall for their Atlas SUV due to a faulty airbag system on the front passenger side of some of the vehicles. Volkswagen has urged owners of the Atlas SUV to bring it in for inspection and repair as soon as possible.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall affects around 143,000 vehicles from model year 2018 to 2021.
The problem is specifically related to wiring in the weight sensor in the front passenger side that would tell the system someone is occupying the seat. Because the system doesn’t register a person in the seat, the airbag may not deploy correctly when needed, increasing the risk of serious injury or death in an accident. Volkswagen is offering free repairs to any customer with an affected Atlas SUV.
The Potential Injuries in Auto Accidents
Car accidents are traumatic events that can leave you severely injured. It is essential for the safety features in your vehicle to work effectively for your well-being.
Commonly reported injuries associated with the defective airbags include:
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Broken bones
In more serious cases, victims have suffered traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries or even death.
Beyond physical injuries, it is common for victims of a car accident to suffer from other long-term stressors like mental anguish, loss of wages due to time taken away from work and expensive medical bills.
If you were involved in a car accident, it is important that you seek medical attention immediately. While you might feel fine initially, some injury symptoms may not appear immediately after the crash. Waiting to see a doctor might not only worsen your injury but also make it difficult for you to receive compensation.
A common defense strategy used by insurance companies is to argue your injuries were actually caused by some other event. It’s much harder for them to successfully make that argument if you see a doctor immediately after you sustain car crash injuries.
What to Do if You Have an Affected Volkswagen Atlas
If you own a Volkswagen Atlas SUV, there are a few steps you should take to ensure that your vehicle is safe.
The first step is to check whether your vehicle is included in the recall. You can find out if your vehicle has been recalled by visiting the Volkswagen website or contacting your local dealership.
If your vehicle is part of the recall, you should contact Volkswagen to schedule a free repair. If you have already had repairs done related to the recall but were charged for the work (or had ancillary expenses like getting a rental vehicle), you should contact Volkswagen to request reimbursement.
Can You Still File a Claim After a Recall?
If you were aware of the recall and continued to use the product anyway, you would have knowingly assumed the risk by continuing to use the product. This can make filing a successful injury claim more difficult.
However, you may still have a valid claim if you were injured or suffered damages due to a recalled product and were unaware of the recall, especially if it can be proven that the dealer or manufacturer failed to take adequate steps to inform you of the recall.
Product liability law holds manufacturers responsible when they distribute harmful products. The manufacturer of the product may be held liable if they knew about the defect or should have known about it but failed to inform consumers.
Additionally, it may be possible to hold other entities accountable for damages caused by the product. Depending on the situation and how clearly injuries can be tied to these parties, the list may include distributors, suppliers and retailers who sold the product.
Some common product injury scenarios in which you might have a legitimate claim include if the product was defectively designed or manufactured, if the product was inadequately labeled or lacked the necessary warnings or safety instructions or if a recall notice was sent out after your injury occurred.
How Can a Houston Product Liability Lawyer Help?
If you live in the Houston area and have been injured by any defective vehicles or parts, including the Volkswagen Atlas, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
The Weycer Law Firm has extensive experience handling product liability cases and helping clients who have been injured by defective products. We are committed to holding manufacturers accountable for their mistakes. Contact us online or call (713) 668-4545 today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
