When someone in Denver thinks about the workplace, he or she likely thinks about an office building, or at the very least some kind of work site, but there are all kinds of workplaces, including a car. For someone whose job it is to deliver products, he or she may spend most of the day in a car. And, just like any other employee, someone whose workplace is in a car deserves to be protected from accidents and injuries. When they aren’t, they can often claim workers’ compensation.
That is why many employees in Denver may be concerned about a recent announcement recalling roughly 3.4 million vehicles after a manufacturer of airbags admitted that the airbag inflator could catch the airbags on fire. Fortunately, there have yet to be any reported injuries or deaths, but that doesn’t mean that an employee may not become injured before he or she can get his or her car fixed. If something like this does happen, he or she may be able to work with a workers’ compensation attorney to file for benefits.
Some of the top-selling vehicles in the state and country are being recalled, including the Nissan Maxima, the Honda Civic, and the Toyota Corolla and Camry. In addition, cars manufactured in 2000 or later could be at risk.
Nor is this the first problem these car companies have had with their airbag manufacturer. Between 2008 and 2011, 2.8 million Hondas were recalled because the driver airbag was defective. Moreover, between 200 and 2004, 1.73 million Toyotas were recalled because of defects.
It remains to be seen if any Colorado employees will report injuries and apply for workers’ compensation from these airbag defects.
Source: Reuters, “Airbag problem forces recall of millions of vehicles,” April 11, 2013
Find out more about workplace injuries by visiting our workers’ compensation page.
