Airbag Failure to Deploy – Lawsuit, Injury and Liability Guide
My Airbag Didn’t Deploy in My Car. Am I Eligible for Product Liability?
There’s no such thing as a “good” car accident, but there is always a best-case scenario. That scenario being, of course, the airbags deployed, and no one was injured. Auto accident statistics confirm that these dangerous collisions happen with regularity. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 50,457 lives were saved due to frontal airbags, between the years 1987 and 2017. While airbags have been associated with minor injuries, such as abrasions, contusions and lacerations, their ability to reduce morbidity in an accident is indisputable. But who is responsible if your airbag fails to deploy? You may have grounds to file an airbag failed to deploy lawsuit.
Step One: Identify If Your Injury Was A Direct Result Of The Air Bag
When an airbag doesn’t deploy, the driver or passenger of a vehicle is in serious danger. Airbags prevent injuries such as Skull fractures, Brain bleeding, Spinal cord injuries, and Fractured ribs. A licensed physician will tell you if you were injured as a result of the airbag malfunction. If your physician determines that your injuries were a result of your malfunctioning airbag, you may have cause to consult with an attorney. An attorney can then help you file an airbag failed to deploy lawsuit
Step Two: Identify Why The Airbag Didn’t Deploy
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), your vehicle’s frontal airbags should deploy in a moderate to severe crash. So, while some associate airbags with every accident, there are several reasons for an airbag not to deploy.
- You Weren’t Driving Fast Enough
In order to reach airbag deployment speed for frontal airbags, you typically must be driving faster than 8-14 MPH. - An Angled Impact
Some angled impacts, or rear impacts, do not set off an airbag. - Bumps and Potholes
Airbags are not designed to deploy for undercarriage impacts, such as potholes or other bumps in the road.
However, if your airbag is improperly manufactured, the reason your airbag did not deploy could have something to do with the sensors or electrical parts. The following are some mechanical reasons your airbag failed to deploy:
- Air bag Sensors
An airbag sensor is usually placed at the known impact zone of a vehicle. If your car experienced a moderate to severe impact and the airbag did not deploy, it’s possible that your sensors are damaged or faulty. - Wiring
The airbag wiring communicates the impact to your airbag. However, your car experiences all sorts of damage during an accident. It’s possible that your airbag’s wiring was damaged or severed during the impact. - Electrical Parts
If an airbag’s electrical system is installed improperly, or consists of faulty parts, your airbag may not deploy.
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Step Three: Keep Your Records
Like all accidents, it’s important to gather all of the available information in order to strengthen your case. The details of your accident, including the speed at which you were traveling, will contribute to your overall argument.
Step Four: Contact An Experienced Airbag Deployment Attorney
A car accident lawyer will be able to help you determine the best course of action regarding your collision. An auto accident law firm will investigate the circumstances behind your undeployed airbag and work with you to figure out your next steps.
Additional Airbag Safety Precautions
Airbags are most effective if you are completely prepared in the event of a car accident. The following tips will help ensure your airbag does its job.
- Airbags can only deploy once. If your airbags did deploy during an accident, remember to replace them immediately and before you drive the vehicle again.
- Buckle Up: Airbags and seat belts go hand in hand. If you are not wearing your seatbelt, you will not get the most benefit out of your airbag.
- Keep Your Distance: Drivers should sit at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel for optimum airbag performance.
- Kids Stay in the Backseat: When it comes to child safety, you can never plan too far ahead.
Takata Airbag Recall: Is Your Vehicle Affected?
Does your car use a Takata airbag? In what the NHTSA calls “the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history,” millions of vehicles with Takata airbags have been recalled. High heat and humidity can potentially cause the airbag’s metal cartridge inflator to explode upon deployment, possibly spraying your car with dangerous, metal propellant wafers.
Click here for a comprehensive list of car brands affected by the recall. To check the recall status of your vehicle, visit www.safercar.gov.
