Just recently, Hyundai announced two separate recalls affecting close to 285,000 of their 2007-2009 Elantra vehicles. There are airbag related issues that prompted Hyundai to act. First, almost 96,000 of the 2007 and 2008 Hyundai Elantra models were recalled because of a problem with the driver’s seat position sensor, which in turn affects how much airbag force to deploy. This means that the airbag could potentially deploy with maximum force, even if the driver is sitting very close to the steering wheel. From a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney’s perspective, this though is very scary and poses a serious injury risk.
Furthermore, Hyundai is also recalling nearly 189,000 Elantras from 2007-2009 because of a weight sensor issue. The sensor can be found under the center console and might malfunction if, for example, a drink is spilled on it. This is a problem because the sensor communicates with the front passenger airbag as to whether the passenger is heavy enough to trigger the airbag in the event of a car accident. If the sensor is not functioning properly, then the airbag could deploy regardless, even if there is a child in the front seat. As a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney, I can already foresee the potential for bodily harm in this scenario. Thus, prior to even bringing these cars in for service, it seems advisable that no children sit in the front passenger seat of the affected Hyundai Elantra recalled models.
As a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer, this recall worries me because of the potential for bodily injury. These defective sensors could lead to even more severe injuries than the already serious injuries that tend to result from a car accident. Though Hyundai would not be responsible for the actual car accident, a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer could argue that Hyundai would be responsible for any injuries that directly resulted from the defective airbags.
In the most disastrous of scenarios, this airbag issue could lead to a wrongful death lawsuit. If a Wrongful Death Attorney could prove that the malfunctioning airbag caused or contributed to someone’s death, then Hyundai would have serious legal and public relations problems.
Yet at the crux of this recall, this is another example of products liability. As a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer, I see the situation in which Hyundai could potentially be found liable, depending of course on each jurisdiction’s product liability laws. Thus, these two sensor/airbag issues could result in personal injury lawsuits against Hyundai. One of the issues in this hypothetical scenario is to what degree the defective product caused someone to suffer harm in terms of damage to their car, body, or even psychological state of mind.
I sincerely hope that the word about this recall spreads rapidly so that Hyundai Elantra owners can take the necessary actions to prevent themselves from being harmed. As a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney with 30 years of experience in this field, I urge owners of the recalled vehicles to contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 1-888-327-4236.
