Attorney Patrick Bailey of Bailey & Partners says if Takata Concealed Air Bag Risks, "Justice Must be Served"
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 12, 2014 -- Attorney Patrick Bailey of the Los Angeles-based law firm Bailey & Partners cautions the public to resist passing judgment on Takata "until all evidence has come to light." But, he says, "this recent New York Times piece, the NHTSA investigation, the probe being ordered by Congress and the millions of cars that are currently being recalled all indicate a massive problem. There is still no definitive evidence that Takata knew of the problems with their air bags sooner than they have admitted. But if they were aware of the dangers and did not respond appropriately, justice must be served and they must get the message: public safety must be a priority."
Bailey refers to this New York Times story published on November 6, 2014, "Takata Saw and Hid Risk in Airbags in 2004, Former Workers Say" by Hiroku Tabuchi. The article reports that Takata was concerned about an incident that occurred in 2004 in which one of their air bags exploded incorrectly and sprayed metal debris at the driver. They began conducting tests to determine if a manufacturer defect was to blame. According to two former employees who spoke to the New York Times, Takata found that their air bag housings were susceptible to cracking. According to the Times piece, these former employees say that Takata ordered them to destroy evidence of the tests.
"If these allegations are true, Takata must take responsibility for not informing safety regulators sooner," Bailey says. "Takata denies the allegations from the former workers but even if they don't prove true, Takata has got to take the appropriate steps now to show the public that safety is their foremost concern."
Over the last several years, the USA TODAY's James Healey reports in his November 7, 2014 piece "Senators want Takata criminal probe, see long cover-up," millions of vehicles from 10 automakers have been recalled over the Takata air bag issue. Nissan and Honda have recently expanded the number they are recalling and other automakers may be following. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating two deaths linked to the air bag issue and two others that are suspected of having been caused by the same defect, Healey reports.
"At least two people have been killed. There may be other accidents throughout the nation and the world that were made worse as a result of air bag defects," Bailey says. "At Bailey & Partners we have the resources to conduct investigations into these types of incidents and represent injury victims and families who have lost loved ones. If Takata, or any of the vehicle manufacturers, failed in their duty to the public, we can hold them responsible and send a message to other manufacturers: if you put profit over safety, tragedy will occur and it will only be a matter of time before you are held accountable."
Betsy Passarelli, Bailey & Partners, http://www.baileypartners.com/, +1 310-392-5000, [email protected]
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