Earlier this month, Florida Toyota car dealer, Earl Stewart, sued one of its competitors, Arrigo Enterprises, for selling cars containing Takata airbags. The lawsuit alleges Arrigo is not telling its customers about the recall and even misrepresenting the recall status.
The dealership’s claims are brought under Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Under this law, as with many similar acts across the country, sellers of goods are prohibited from engaging in practices that are likely to mislead the quality or character of goods sold to consumers. So far, over 23 million vehicles have been recalled due to defective Takata airbags. If deployed, the airbag inflators can break apart sending dangerous shrapnel toward motorists.
In its lawsuit, Stewart alleges that car buyers are not being warned about the dangers of these vehicles or the repairs necessary to make the vehicles safe. In an interview with CBS, Stewart told reporters, “How can you allow someone to sell a product that can kill or injury you?” In a follow up undercover investigation, CBS reported that shoppers were rarely informed about the Takata recalls or were provided inaccurate information regarding the airbag defect.
Purchasing a new car that is defective can be extremely dangerous to drivers, their passengers, and other motorists on the road. If you or someone you know has been injured or killed from a defective vehicle, it is important to find a skilled law firm with experience handling personal injury cases. The law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner is the oldest personal injury firm in Texas, and our attorneys are standing by to assist with your claim. Call us today at (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211 for your free consultation.