Can You Sue a Car Company for Airbags Not Deploying?

Car companies or airbag suppliers may be liable when airbags malfunction and cause injuries in a crash. Rupture during deployment is one of the more common issues in airbag lawsuits. These lawsuits are typically filed as personal injury product liability claims and involve airbag inflators that exploded like a grenade, expelling shrapnel into the occupant compartment of the vehicle. Product liability lawsuits hold manufacturers accountable when defective products cause harm.

A manufacturer may be liable for a defective airbag under the following circumstances:

• Manufacturing defect: A production error resulted in a flawed, unsafe airbag.
• Defective design: The airbag system was improperly designed and did not function as intended, even if manufactured correctly.
• Failure to warn: The company didn’t properly inform consumers of the risks or limitations of the airbag system.

A lawyer with experience handling defective product lawsuits can investigate the cause of failure. They can determine whether you have a claim against the car company or airbag manufacturer.

Motley Rice has taken legal action alleging defects against several major airbag manufacturers, including:

• ARC Automotive, Inc.
• Joyson Safety Systems
• Takata Corporation

These companies have faced lawsuits alleging SRS airbag system malfunctions that left drivers and passengers unprotected or injured.

If your airbag malfunctioned in a crash, you may be eligible to recover damages through a lawsuit. Compensation in these cases may include:

• Medical expenses: Emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation and long-term treatment, including those for permanent physical injuries. These injuries may include the loss of an eye, permanent loss of hearing, broken bones, or severe lacerations
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional trauma and reduced quality of life
• Lost wages: Time away from work or loss of future earning capacity due to injuries

Each case is unique. The amount you may recover depends on the specifics of your accident, the severity of your injuries and who is found liable.

How Motley Rice attorneys can help victims of defective airbags

Motley Rice attorneys have experience helping clients pursue legal claims for injuries involving defective airbags and vehicle design flaws. Our team can:

• Investigate whether the airbag failed due to a manufacturing defect or design flaw
• Collect evidence, including crash reports and expert analysis
• Handle communication with car and airbag manufacturers
• Pursue compensation through settlement, litigation, or the Takata Claims process

We are actively involved in major vehicle defect litigation, including high-profile airbag cases that have affected millions of drivers.

What is the average settlement when airbags ruptured or failed to deploy in an accident?

Each case has its own unique factors that may determine settlement amounts. Factors include the severity of injuries, whether the airbag was recalled and how clearly the defect contributed to the harm. An attorney can evaluate your case and estimate your potential damages.

What is considered evidence when suing a car company for airbag defects?

Evidence in these cases typically includes:

• Documentation of airbag recalls or service history
• Expert engineering reports
• Medical records
• Proof of injuries caused by the airbag rupturing or not deploying
• Police reports or crash reports
• Shrapnel from the airbag
• The vehicle

All of this information can help build a strong product liability case, but the vehicle itself (including the defective airbag) can be one of the most important pieces of evidence. Your insurance may ask you to sign a release allowing them to get rid of the vehicle, but the vehicle may be necessary to retain as evidence.

What should I do if I get injured from an airbag failure?

First, seek medical attention and preserve any documents related to your injuries and the accident. Then, contact a personal injury lawyer who can determine if you have a claim against the vehicle or airbag manufacturer. Holding onto the vehicle for inspection may also be important.

Who may be liable for airbags not deploying?

Multiple parties may be held liable for an airbag that ruptured or failed to deploy:

• Airbag control unit designers and manufacturers
• Airbag manufacturers
• Auto dealers or repair shops that improperly installed or replaced airbags
• Vehicle manufacturers

Motley Rice helps victims determine who may be at fault and pursues accountability against manufacturers for defective products.

Motley Rice has decades of experience representing clients injured by defective vehicle components, including airbag systems. Our team has helped bring claims against airbag manufacturers like Takata and ARC. We work to hold them accountable and recover compensation for those harmed.

We advocate for safer vehicles and stand up to companies that put profits over safety.

Read more on our vehicle defect litigation experience.