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Family of SC woman files lawsuit for wrongful death with faulty airbags
Posted: Nov 25, 2014
By Stacy Jacobson
srjacobson@sbgtv.com
srjacobson@sbgtv.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) -- Photos of a smashed hood and a deployed airbag show the single-car accident that a coroner concluded led to Mary Wolfe's death in 2008.
“Frontal impact deployed the airbags at a very excessive rate. We believe based on medical evidence it broke her neck. She died 18 days after the accident," said Kevin Dean, Motley Rice attorney for Wolfe's estate.
Dean said Wolfe's family sued Honda and airbag maker Takata. Family members said they didn't know about the potential for her airbag to malfunction until four years after she died.
“It's basically opened up old wounds. This probably happens to a lot of families out there that either get a recall notice now for a loved one who died six years ago. They thought they'd put this behind them,” Dean said.
Her relatives aren't alone. National regulators have recalled millions of vehicles equipped with Takata airbags, including Wolfe's 2002 Honda Accord.
Last week, a special senate committee questioned a Takata executive. He apologized but did not say he supported a nationwide recall.
"We are deeply sorry about each of the reported instances in which a Takata airbag has not performed as designed and the driver or passenger had suffered personal injuries or deaths," said Hiroshi Shimizu, senior vice president of global quality assurance for Takata Corporation.
Wolfe's family wanted other families to know of the risk, especially before hitting the road this holiday season.
“They're getting in vehicles where they're not aware there is a potentially a stick of dynamite in their steering wheel,” Dean said.
If you want to check whether your vehicle is affected, visit this website to search by make and model.
Honda representatives said they had not yet been able to review the lawsuit and thus could not comment.
Motley Rice has more information for potential affected parties here.
“They're getting in vehicles where they're not aware there is a potentially a stick of dynamite in their steering wheel,” Dean said.
If you want to check whether your vehicle is affected, visit this website to search by make and model.
Honda representatives said they had not yet been able to review the lawsuit and thus could not comment.
Motley Rice has more information for potential affected parties here.
http://www.abcnews4.com/story/27481840/family-of-sc-woman-files-lawsuit-for-wrongful-death-with-faulty-airbags
