Airbag Failures in Serious Injury Cases Often Go Overlooked

In most car accident cases, the focus naturally turns to driver negligence—who ran the red light, who failed to yield, or who was speeding. But one avenue of recovery that is often overlooked involves airbag malfunctions. When an airbag fails to deploy, deploys improperly, or deploys with excessive force, the injuries sustained by the vehicle’s occupants may be far worse than they would have been had the airbag functioned as designed. These situations give rise to product liability claims, which are frequently missed in the early stages of case evaluation.

The key benefit of exploring an airbag malfunction claim is that it may establish liability against the manufacturer or designer of the airbag system, regardless of who caused the accident itself. In other words, even if a client is partially or fully at fault for the underlying crash, they may still have a valid and independent claim against the airbag manufacturer if the failure of the airbag contributed to the severity of their injuries.

For example, if a driver causes a rear-end collision and sustains serious facial fractures or traumatic brain injuries because the airbag failed to deploy, the driver’s own negligence in causing the accident does not automatically bar them from pursuing the manufacturer for the defect. Product liability law holds manufacturers strictly liable for defective products that cause harm, and airbags are no exception.

Another advantage of pursuing an airbag defect claim is that it is not limited by the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy limits. In many accident cases, clients are restricted to recovering from the other driver’s insurance policy, which may be as little as $15,000 in California. However, when a defective airbag contributes to serious injuries, the claim is made directly against a manufacturer—typically a corporation with substantial resources or significant insurance coverage.

This can make a meaningful difference in cases involving catastrophic or life-changing injuries. A defective airbag claim can open the door to a recovery that more accurately reflects the true extent of damages, including long-term medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.

Airbag malfunction claims can also strengthen an auto accident case overall. By asserting product liability, plaintiffs may leverage additional theories of recovery, including negligence, strict liability, and breach of warranty, to expand available damages. They also shift part of the liability to a party that jurors often view less sympathetically than an individual driver—the corporate manufacturer of a defective safety device.

Despite these advantages, airbag defect claims are sometimes missed because the focus remains on the conduct of the drivers involved in the collision. Early investigation is key, including preservation of the vehicle and a thorough inspection by qualified experts. Signs of airbag failure may include no deployment in a moderate-to-severe impact, late deployment, unexpected deployment in a low-impact collision, or airbags deploying with excessive force.

For injury victims, understanding all potential avenues of recovery is essential. In cases where airbags do not function as intended, product liability may provide critical financial relief beyond what is available through a standard auto accident claim.

CONTACT PHILLIPS & ASSOCIATES TODAY

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident and you suspect an airbag malfunction, contact Phillips & Associates at (818) 348-9515 for a free consultation today. You will immediately be put in touch with John Phillips or Patrick DiFilippo, who can help determine whether you have a case and advise you on the best course of action moving forward.