Airbags should protect occupants from hitting interior or exterior objects during a collision. These inflatable cushions reduce the chance of further injuries by shielding individuals from blunt-force trauma. However, the airbags produced by ARC Automotive Inc. may present risks that outweigh an airbag’s usual benefits. Individuals have filed lawsuits against ARC Automotive Inc. for injuries caused by the company’s rupturing airbags. Lawsuits allege the gas and materials used to manufacture the ARC airbag inflator increase the likelihood of explosions. Has an ARC airbag injured you or a loved one? Contact The Lake Law Firm today to speak with our experienced team about how an ARC airbag lawsuit lawyer can help you.
The Lake Law Firm is accepting lawsuits on behalf of individuals harmed by ARC airbags. Lawsuits claim these volatile airbags have resulted in severe injuries and even death.
Ideally, the impact of a motor vehicle collision triggers the airbag sensors to inflate the airbag. Once the sensors detect a crash, the inflation system produces gas to fill the airbag. Typically, the inflator is a tiny metal canister containing the reactive gas. The ARC airbags consist of “toroidal” inflators, meaning they are small and circular in shape.
These toroidal inflators hold the chemical propellant to inflate the airbag. However, lawsuits allege ARC uses a hazardous gas known as phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) to achieve airbag inflation. PSAN is a well-known dangerous and volatile chemical that burns faster than other industry-standard propellants. This rapidly burning propellant leads to unsafe pressurization of the canister, which can then explode. Like the infamous Takata airbag explosions, the erupting airbag can send flying metal shrapnel toward vehicle occupants.
The perilous problems with ARC airbags do not stop at the explosive risk of ammonium nitrate. Another pressing matter cited in lawsuits against ARC Automotive Inc. is the phenomenon known as “weld flash.” ARC relies on a method called friction welding to manufacture the inflators. The friction welding causes “weld flash,” excess pieces of metal formed outside the weld location. In an accident, the hardened metal can block the gas exit section of the canister. This blockage causes pressure to build and an ensuing eruption.
Several makes and models possess ARC airbags. In fact, some of these automotive manufacturers have become entangled in lawsuits due to the defective airbags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates over 51 million vehicles on the road have ARC airbags. Some vehicle makes that may have ARC airbags include:
If your ARC airbags injured you, the lawyers at The Lake Law Firm are on standby to speak with you. Our capable team consists of knowledgeable attorneys determined to assist the public in holding negligent companies accountable. ARC Automotive has consistently chosen profits over the safety of drivers and passengers. Connect with an ARC airbag lawsuit lawyer from The Lake Law Firm to begin your potential claim today.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been investigating ARC Automotive since 2015. Singular vehicle manufacturers like General Motors have recalled vehicles with the faulty airbags. Yet, ARC Automotive Inc. has not recalled the airbags themselves, leaving the root of the problem still at hand.
Upon impact, the ARC airbags spew harmful and sometimes lethal metal shrapnel at innocent drivers and passengers. The first signs of the dire airbag situation appeared in 2015 when flying shrapnel injured two passengers. Urgency set in once a Canadian woman died while driving her Hyundai Elantra with an ARC airbag that sent metal shards the next year. In 2021, an ARC airbag’s metal fragments killed a second person in Michigan in an otherwise minor accident.
Individuals struck by metal shrapnel from ARC airbags may suffer:
Individuals nationwide have filed lawsuits for injuries and deaths caused by ARC airbags. Drivers and passengers expect airbags to protect them in the event of an accident, not to worsen the situation. Plaintiffs accuse ARC Automotive Inc. of knowing about the risks associated with phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate but using it anyway because it is more cost-effective. Lawsuits state the company cut corners to save money rather than ensure the safety of its consumers.
The family of the woman killed in 2021 filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2022. Similar to other ARC airbag lawsuits, the case of Marlene Beaudoin states that this minor accident resulted in a needless death because of the unreasonably dangerous ARC airbags.
Has an ARC airbag led to the untimely death of a loved one? The Lake Law Firm offers free consultations to evaluate your situation to see if you qualify for a wrongful death lawsuit. Major design flaws led ARC airbags to exacerbate relatively minor accidents, leaving occupants severely injured or dead.
If an ARC airbag injured you or a loved one, you may recover compensation for any or all of the following:
Despite an ongoing investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, ARC Automotive has not recalled the defective airbag inflators. The company has placed millions of people in life-threatening situations by refusing to acknowledge the problems with its airbags. These airbag inflators, characterized by welding defects and explosive ammonium nitrate, have injured and killed unsuspecting drivers and passengers.
ARC airbags have effectively done the opposite of safeguarding individuals during an accident. The lawyers at The Lake Law Firm can guide you through the legal process of filing a lawsuit against ARC Automotive. Call us now to speak with a qualified lawyer about how an ARC airbag lawsuit can benefit you.
The Lake Law Firm was founded by Edward J. Lake, Esq., a personal injury lawyer for over 25 years. Our dedicated team of attorneys is committed to seeking justice on behalf of those who have suffered injury or death due to the negligence of others. Our experienced attorneys handle many different types of pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, and other defective products. The lawyers in our firm have helped collect millions of dollars for their clients. The Lake Law Firm will advocate for you and your rights. Please contact us for a free confidential case evaluation at (888) 525-3529 or submit an inquiry on this page.
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