HOUSTON – There have been 11 deaths caused by faulty airbags in the U.S., and two of those deaths occurred in the Houston area.
One lawyer who represented the family in one of those Houston cases is now representing a woman who had a near-death experience.
"I thought I was going to bleed to death," said Serena Martinez.
Martinez said she was 3 inches away from dying, and only lived because the shrapnel pierced her chest instead of her neck.
"I have nightmares about what could have happened and I have trouble sleeping," Martinez said.
On Sept. 11, Martinez was driving her 2002 Honda Accord to work in Katy. She said another woman tried to turn left and veered into her lane, causing the minor crash.
"Ammonium nitrate basically exploded and caused the inflator to rupture and sent out these metal fragments at a very high rate of speed, almost like being parts of a grenade," said Muhammad Aziz, one of Martinez's lawyers.
Aziz is no stranger to Takata and its airbags. He represented the family of 17-year-old Huma Hanif who died as a result of an exploding airbag in Fort Bend County.
"Both are 2002-model vehicles, low-impact vehicle collisions and ruptures of the inflator," Aziz said.
Martinez and her lawyers are ready to do battle with Takata and Honda and are seeking more than $1 million in damages.
"I don't understand how something that was supposed to protect me actually ended up causing my injuries," Martinez said.
The woman who hit Martinez is also named in the lawsuit. Martinez's lawyers said it's part of the legal procedure to include everyone involved initially. They said they aren't going after the woman's assets.
Takata and Honda did not return calls for comment.
Attorneys representing woman who is suing Takata, Honda for alleged defective airbag. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/4tmTz3MoiK
— Jake Reiner (@Reiner_Jake) November 1, 2016