Texas Hyundai Airbag Lawyer

The driver of a Hyundai vehicle died when they were hit by metal shrapnel from an ARC airbag inflator that exploded in a low-speed collision.

Need a Texas Hyundai Airbag Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you were injured or a loved one died when a Hyundai airbag exploded or failed to deploy, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.

U.S. Safety Officials Believe 52 Million Airbags Are Defective

About 52 million airbag inflators made by ARC Automotive and Delphi Automotive are defective because they can explode when the airbag deploys and shoot out metal that can kill people, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

These airbag inflators were made between the year 2000 and January 2018, when ARC updated their manufacturing process to fix the issue.

The inflators were installed in driver-side and passenger-side airbags in vehicles from Hyundai and 11 other auto-makers, according to the NHTSA. Two deaths and 7 injuries have been reported since 2009.

Hyundai Driver Dies After Being Hit by Shrapnel from ARC Airbag

In July 2016, a driver died when they were hit by metal shrapnel that blew out of a driver-side ARC airbag inflator in a 2009 Hyundai Elantra, according to CBC News.

Tragically, the driver was involved only in a minor two-vehicle crash. “The incident was a low-speed collision, which was expected to be survivable,” a Transport Canada spokesman said.

The death was the first to occur in Canada. In the U.S., ARC airbag inflators have been linked to one other death, plus 7 serious injuries, when people were hit by sharp metal that exploded out of the airbag.

Canadian Safety Officials Investigate Hyundai Vehicles with ARC Airbags

Transport Canada is investigating reports of ARC airbag explosions in Hyundai vehicles.

The list of Hyundai vehicles that may contain driver-side frontal airbag inflators made by ARC includes:

• Hyundai Azera 2007-2011
• Hyundai Elantra 2006-2016
• Hyundai Elantra Touring 2007-2012
• Hyundai Elantra GT 2012-2016
• Hyundai Equus 2009-2012
• Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2010-2015
• Hyundai Sonata 2005-2010
• Hyundai Tiburon 2002-2008
• Hyundai Tucson 2004-2010
• Hyundai XG350 2002-2005

Problems With ARC Airbag Explosions

The problem with ARC airbag inflators is linked to a manufacturing issue, according to U.S. safety officials who began investigating the issue in 2015.

After an 8-year investigation, the NHTSA concluded that ARC airbag inflators are defective because of a manufacturing problem related to the friction welding process. This process can produce excess metal called “weld slag” inside a metal canister for the airbag inflator.

If the “weld slag” is large enough, it can plug up a vent hole in the inflator that is supposed to allow gases to escape and fill up the airbag. Instead, the gases have nowhere to go, so the metal canister pressurizes and blows apart.

What is the Risk?

Sharp metal fragments from the inflator canister can shoot out of the airbag when it deploys, hitting people inside the vehicle in the face, neck, chest, or body. These injuries may resemble gunshots or knife wounds, and they are often deadly or result in severe injuries.

Defective Airbags May Fail to Deploy

Another problem is that the metal also rips apart the airbag, causing it to fail to inflate in a collision. Even if the people inside the vehicle are not hit by metal shrapnel, they can suffer life-threatening injuries when they hit the steering wheel or other parts of the vehicle because they were not protected by the airbag.

Need a Hyundai Airbag Lawyer in Texas?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years of experience, participation in over 600 jury trials, and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.