Is there a recall on your car? Check to be sure.

Is your car or truck safe to drive? Are you sure?

Many people who are hurt or killed by an automotive defect weren’t aware that their vehicle was under recall. Checking to see if your vehicle has been recalled is easy, it often costs nothing to have the defect fixed, and doing so can save your life and the lives of your loved ones.

The Takata airbag recall, the most extensive in U.S. automotive history, is of particular concern due to a large number of vehicles affected and the severity of the injuries caused by the defect. The Takata airbags in question have inflators made with ammonium nitrate, a propellant that can become unstable and cause the inflator to rupture, sending metal shards into the cabin. Ten people (nine in the U.S.) have been killed and more than 100 have been injured this way.

It is estimated that tens of millions of Americans may be driving cars equipped with these potentially deadly airbags and not know it. The most recent death caused by a Takata airbag occurred in a vehicle that had not yet been placed under recall. Following this tragedy, an additional five million vehicles were added to the recall list, which spans nearly all of the major automakers.

Because it often takes this type of tragedy to identify the need for a recall, it is possible that there are still more affected models that haven’t been caught yet. But, for the tens of millions of Americans whose cars and trucks HAVE been recalled, the best thing to do is to get the defective part fixed, for free. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration makes it easy, by providing a list of affected models and years, instructions on what to do if your vehicle is under recall, and answers to common questions. Best of all, they have a tool to help you know for sure if your car is under recall — simply enter the VIN number from your vehicle’s registration and they will determine whether or not that vehicle needs to be repaired.

If you or a loved one have been hurt by a defect or malfunction in a recalled vehicle, or if you have been injured by an exploding airbag, contact an auto recall lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. Consultations are free, and there is no fee unless we win.