A Harris County man is suing Mazda, alleging injuries he sustained occurred when his vehicle's airbags deployed for no reason.
Timothy J. Hagan filed a lawsuit Nov. 2 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Mazda Motor of America, doing business as Mazda North American Operations, alleging concealment of material facts and the manufacture and sale of an unreasonably dangerous vehicle.
On Nov. 21, 2014, the suit states, Hagan was driving his Mazda SUV southbound on the Gulf Freeway outside of Houston, when the side airbags spontaneously deployed, striking Hagan in the back and right side. The suit says Hagan was hospitalized in the emergency room at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center and was treated for multiple rib fractures, a collapsed lung, and a ruptured spleen.
The plaintiff was hospitalized for approximately three weeks, during which time his spleen was removed and he incurred over $385,000 in medical expenses, the lawsuit states. Mazda denied any responsibility, according to the suit.
Hagan seeks damages of more than $1 million, including punitive damages and attorney fees. He is represented by attorney Gregory N. Jones of The Law Office of Gregory N. Jones in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:15-cv-03222.