Car Totaled, but Airbags Didn’t Deploy

Many motor vehicles today are designed using advanced technologies that automatically activate the airbag during a crash. Automatic airbag activation helps protect passengers by preventing a high-impact collision with the dashboard.

However, a product malfunction or design defect can prevent the airbag from working as designed, often leading to life-threatening injuries. If you were in a car crash with faulty airbags, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your damages.

Understanding Airbag Deployment

Automatic manufacturers design airbags to activate in a high-impact collision. When an accident occurs, the side, front, knee, and seat belt airbags should inflate to protect passengers.

Function of Airbags

The primary function of airbags is to prevent each passenger’s upper body from hitting the dashboard, steering wheel, or windshield during collisions. When used in combination with seat belts, functioning airbags can save lives. They can also minimize face and head trauma, lower the risk of being ejected from the vehicle, and protect unbelted passengers.

Airbags are installed throughout your car’s interior. Frontal airbags activate when rear-ended. Side airbags may activate during a side impact or frontal forward crash.

When Airbags Should Deploy

Airbags deploy in an accident with significant impact. Airbag inflation generally depends on how fast the vehicle is going and where the impact occurs. The airbags should activate when a car is involved in a moderate to severe front or near-front collision. Airbags may or may not deploy in a front-end collision, depending on how likely passengers are to hit their heads.

Typically, frontal airbags don’t inflate in a rollover crash. They also don’t activate during minor collisions. However, other airbags may inflate during other crash types. For example, side curtain airbags are designed to deploy in a rollover crash. Airbag sensors are important in determining what airbags should deploy and when.

Factors Affecting Deployment

Vehicle airbags are designed to inflate based on the following factors:

• Impact Severity: A car accident’s severity impacts airbag deployment speed. A higher impact during a car accident typically results in a faster airbag response. Sensors also consider the number and size of cars involved in the crash.
• Collision Angle: The angle of the collision also impacts whether or not airbags inflate and how quickly. Airbag activation is programmed differently depending on the type of collision, including front, side, or rear end.
• Occupant Position: The positioning of occupants in the vehicle may affect airbag deployment. Many vehicles have crash sensors that only activate airbags in passenger-occupied cabin areas.
• Vehicle Speed: The vehicle’s speed during the collision may also affect whether or not the airbag deploys. Vehicles traveling faster during a car accident usually deploy the airbag more quickly.

Why Have My Airbags Failed?

When airbags fail to deploy in a severe accident, it often leads to serious injuries. There are many reasons why airbag deployment may not occur during a car accident, including the following conditions.

Collision Severity

Airbags deploy primarily in high-speed, high-impact collisions. The speed threshold varies depending on the automotive manufacturer and the vehicle’s year.

Of course, the speed at which the other vehicle is going also impacts the collision’s severity and whether airbag deployment should happen. Seatbelts are important because they provide adequate protection even in low-speed or low-impact collisions.

Faulty airbags could also cause injury by activating when they shouldn’t. Airbags that inflate without collision can disrupt the driver and even cause a crash.

Sensor Malfunction

A sensor malfunction can lead to airbag deployment failure. Most vehicles have multiple sensors, including front impact and pressure. These sensors provide the electrical system with information that helps determine whether or not to deploy the airbags during a collision.

Airbag sensors detect a vehicle occupant and measure acceleration, deceleration, and collision impact to determine when airbags deploy. Faulty sensors or electrical system malfunctions can cause airbag failure during a severe crash.

Sensors should also automatically deactivate airbags when small passengers or children are too close to the dashboard. This process helps prevent injuries from airbag deployments, but a faulty crash sensor can lead to further injury.

Defective Airbag System

Manufacturing or design flaws in the airbag system can also prevent them from working in a front-end collision. When passenger airbags are defective, they may not deploy during a car accident or wrongly deploy without collision. Vehicle passengers can even experience airbag injuries without being involved in an accident.

Improper Installation or Maintenance

The improper installation or maintenance of airbags may prevent them from properly working during a car accident. Additionally, vehicle owners should stay informed about manufacturer recalls, which can be voluntary or mandated by the NHTSA. These recalls often address defects in front airbags or crash sensors that could compromise safety.

Legal Implications of Airbag Failure

Airbag failure can exacerbate the outcome of a car accident. Those who suffer severe injuries due to defective airbags may be eligible to seek damages through a lawsuit. If your airbags didn’t deploy during a car accident, you may be able to collect compensation through the following legal routes.

Product Liability

Product designers and manufacturers are expected to properly test products before releasing them to the public and fix known defects as quickly as possible. A vehicle or airbag manufacturer that fails to maintain safety standards could be held liable for injuries sustained in a severe crash.

Negligence

Negligence could also be a factor in a car accident case involving defective airbags. Improper maintenance, faulty repairs, or a lack of maintenance experience could all be considered negligence. A negligence lawsuit requires a legal duty of care, proof of negligent behavior, a direct correlation between the airbag malfunction and sustained injuries, and actual damages.

Increased Injury Severity

When airbags fail to deploy, passengers typically experience more catastrophic injuries. Multiple parties can be liable when a car accident and manufacturing defect lead to injury.

For example, another driver may be to blame for negligent driving, such as speeding or driving while under the influence. However, if the airbags don’t work, the victim may suffer from even more severe injuries.

A personal injury claim aims to prove negligence, even if it includes multiple parties. However, experienced legal representation is necessary when navigating legal claims involving multiple responsible parties.

Steps to Take After Car Accidents with Airbag Non-Deployment

If you were in an accident where the airbags failed, it’s crucial to take certain steps to protect your legal rights and overall safety. Here are a few key steps to take after a car accident when the airbags fail.

Seek Medical Attention

Always seek immediate medical attention following an accident. All accident victims should receive medical treatment at a local hospital or by a trusted medical provider, regardless of injury severity. Some injuries may not appear for many hours or days following the accident. Additionally, immediate medical care helps connect your injury to the car crash.

Document the Accident

Be sure to document the accident and collect any available time-sensitive information. Take photographs of the accident, including the damages, injuries, and accident scene. Keep all medical records. If possible, obtain pictures or video evidence of the airbag module, especially if any manufacturing defects are noticeable.

Report the Incident

Report the accident and airbag malfunction as soon as possible following the accident. Notify the local police of the car accident and request a copy of the police report. Inform your and other passenger’s insurance companies that you have been in an accident. Many police stations and insurance companies have time limits on how long you must file a claim.

State statute limitations also limit how long victims have to file a personal injury claim against a negligent party. It can take time for your legal team to build a successful case, so begin the process as soon as possible.

If you believe the airbag failed, notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or your vehicle’s dealer. This step will open an official report into the problem, which could potentially prevent other vehicle owners from suffering extensive injuries.

Consult with a Personal Injury Lawyer

When an airbag fails, crash victims may suffer more extreme injuries. For example, severe collisions commonly lead to traumatic brain injuries, which cause high medical expenses, time off from work, and pain and suffering.

Working with an experienced car accident attorney allows you to explore your legal rights and compensation eligibility. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers offers a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.

The Role of a Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal injury lawyers offer injured victims access to expert legal representation. Here are a few things you can expect from your legal team.

Investigating the Accident

One of the first things a personal injury lawyer will do when representing you is to investigate the accident.

They analyze maintenance records, review recall notices, and consult with automotive and accident reconstruction experts to determine the events that led to the accident, which helps determine who is liable for your injuries. This examination allows your legal team to understand better what happened and why the airbags didn’t deploy.

Collecting evidence is also an important part of the investigation. The lawyer also obtains police reports, collects witness statements, and gathers medical records to document injuries consistent with airbag failure.

Determining Liability

Personal injury lawsuits require clear proof of liability to support a compensation claim. When crash victims suffer serious injuries due to airbag defects, multiple parties may be liable, including the car manufacturer, the airbag manufacturer, or the repair shop.

Our team works with expert witnesses and lead investigators to determine who is responsible for your incurred damages.

Negotiating with Insurance Companies

Another important task your legal team will handle is negotiating with the insurance company. It’s not uncommon for the insurance provider to attempt to minimize your injury or to deflect blame.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers negotiate while keeping your best interests in mind. By building a strong case with evidence, we can also better prove how the outcome of the vehicle accident was exacerbated when the airbags didn’t deploy. Our team also takes the time to fully understand how the accident has and will impact your life.

When airbags don’t deploy in an accident, it can lead to painful injuries, emotional suffering, and an inability to work. Our team ensures victims can access the maximum benefits they are entitled to.

Pursuing Litigation

Car accidents are sometimes settled outside of court. However, litigation may be necessary if the insurance company or liable party is unwilling to offer a fair settlement that appropriately covers your damages.

Our Chicago personal injury legal team is prepared to represent your case in trial, whether that’s against the airbag manufacturer, car maker, or other third-party entity. Whether the crash sensors failed, the side airbags didn’t inflate, or the airbags did not deploy, our legal team will investigate and get you the fair compensation you deserve.

Reach Out to a Car Accident Lawyer Today!

If you suffered injuries from faulty airbag systems, you may be eligible for compensation through a third-party personal injury case.

Airbag defaults can lead to severe injuries, putting passengers in difficult financial positions. In severe crashes where the airbag malfunctions, the automotive or airbag manufacturer may be held responsible for resulting injuries and damages.

Our Chicago car accident lawyers help airbag default victims recover the compensation they need to cover medical costs, replenish lost wages, and deal with the psychological impacts of collision injuries.

Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers today at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation or complete our contact form.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.